|
|
Change low graphic options | Change language | Skip content to navigation
Page context: Home > News online
Day of action in support of Blue Diamond workers
19 May 2006
ITF affiliates in Canada, Japan, Korea, Australia and New Zealand took part in a day of action on 16 May, in support of the struggle of exploited workers at the world’s largest almond processing plant to secure union rights.
The day of action was timed to coincide with the 33rd international convention of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), which has been working to organise the Blue Diamond Growers plant in Sacramento, California, since 2004. The company, which exports 70 per cent of its goods to 10 countries in Europe, Asia and Australia has been found guilty of 28 labour law violations in the US. It continues to conduct an aggressive anti-union campaign, including illegally firing union supporters and threatening to close the plant.
During the convention, held in Vancouver, Canada, members of the ILWU and the British Columbia Federation of Labour took part in a demonstration and rally in Vancouver’s shopping district.
The rally was addressed by ITF General Secretary David Cockroft, who pledged to the ILWU and the Blue Diamond workers the solidarity of the ITF, its dockers, who handle Blue Diamond cargoes, and the global labour movement as a whole.
On the same day in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia, members of the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) and Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) rallied outside the offices of one of BDG’s buyers in Australia, Scalzo Industries. Ten minutes into the Sydney rally, Scalzo management promised to back the protest. According to Warren Smith, assistant Sydney branch secretary:
“Scalzo management approached the demonstrators and produced a letter from the company head addressed to Blue Diamond, critical of their anti-union activities, urging them to rehire sacked workers and to follow the law and avoid a costly and disruptive anti-union campaign.”
Elsewhere, the All-Japan Seamen’s Union and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions wrote protest letters to Blue Diamond, the Korean union also requesting a meeting with a major BDG customer.
The International Union of Food Workers (IUF), a sister Global Union Federation, has also supported the campaign for union recognition at the Sacramento plant.
Related pages:
Supporting Blue Diamond Growers workers
Actions in support of the workers at Blue Diamond Growers (BDG)...
From local to global
In September 2004, workers in the Blue Diamond Growers’...
Back to current news online stories
Section home:
News online
Other pages for News online:
About News Online | What is RSS | ITF Headlines on your Website
RSS feeds
Download our free RSS news feeds:
English |Español |Français |Deutsch |Svenska
What is RSS?
Main Sections:
Home | About us | Solidarity | Flags of Convenience campaign | Seafarers | Dockers | Civil Aviation | Railways | Road transport | Urban Transport | Fisheries | Tourism | Inland Navigation | Women | Education | Young workers
Transport International Magazine
accessibility | site help | site map
ITF House, 49-60 Borough Road, London SE1 1DR | +44 20 7403 2733 | mail@itf.org.uk
