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Act now on violence in India, shipping giant Møller-Maersk told
18/11/2009
The ITF is demanding that Danish shipping and port multinational, Møller-Maersk, sack one of its contractors after it allegedly repeatedly carried out violent assaults against port drivers in India.
The attacks against port drivers, represented by the ITF-affiliated Transport and Dock Workers’ Union (TDWU), took place in Mumbai on 23 October 2009 and were thought to be perpetrated by SC Thakur, a Møller-Maersk contractor. Three union members say they were beaten by SC Thakur supervisors, who forced their way into their homes – one of the assaults was carried out in front of the man’s wife and children. The victims had all made court depositions regarding the company’s failure to pay their social security and pension contributions. They were also told to leave the union.
These assaults follow two earlier attacks. The first took place in April 2007, when four drivers employed by SC Thakur were abducted and severely beaten; they had to be hospitalised. Workers who went on strike in protest over the beatings were subsequently sacked. Dialogue between Maersk and the ITF led to the workers’ reinstatement, but the violence continued in a further incident in March 2008 – Thakur thugs beat workers with hockey sticks and steel rods on a company bus to “persuade” them to join a company-run or “yellow” union.
An ITF mission to the area compiled evidence of the attacks and intimidation, and handed this over to the company, police, and local government. A Danish parliamentary delegation also met with the TDWU in March 2009 to discuss the situation. In addition, the ITF commissioned an independent human rights report, which it made available to Maersk during negotiations that it hoped would resolve the issue.
ITF assistant general secretary Stuart Howard said: “This latest bloody attack is doubly shocking given the efforts made since the first thuggish assaults two years ago. Since then we have sought to end this appalling situation with Maersk’s cooperation. The company has taken some measures to aid these workers and hinder the reported criminal behaviour of this contractor, but these clearly still fall short of what the workers on the ground want and need.
“We are demanding that immediate steps be taken to terminate the contract of Thakur with the transfer of its workforce to a contractor who is ready to recognise the TDWU and sign a collective bargaining agreement.
He concluded: “This kind of violence is unacceptable. This company is a repeat offender. We will not wait for a fourth incident to happen. The company has to go, and go now.”
Related press:
17/11/2009
Møller-Maersk told ‘act now’ on Indian violence
Global union federation the ITF has put shipping and port giant...
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