PERUVIAN DOCKERS STRIKE AGAINST PRIVATISATION

Members of the Federación Nacional de Trabajadores de la Empresa Nacional de Puertos (FENTENAPU) staged two strikes – a 24-hour strike on 7 June and a further four-hour strike on 19 June - in a bid to stave off privatisation of the port of Callao. The union opposed plans to what it considered an illegal sell-off of land to the private sector. It noted several apparent irregularities in a process that it believed was being rushed through, while public opinion was focused on the recent elections and their aftermath.  The proposals included ordering the port authority to give away US$120 million of its social capital and to lower its charges, reducing income by US$15.5 million. Consequently, there would not be enough money to meet current commitments such as pension payments that it was legally obliged to pay, to purchase port and yard cranes and to modernise provincial port terminals. The port authority would be obliged to draw on its reserves to meet these commitments, bringing it to the verge of bankruptcy. The union had exhausted all other avenues, including suspending a planned stoppage in favour of continued negotiation, before initiating the action and had the backing of the local government and Peruvian society.  FENTENAPU’s ongoing struggle against privatisation is supported by the Dockers’ Section with the help of ITF’s Inter-American Office.

NZ DOCKERS GAIN AGREEMENT WITH THE HELP OF INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY

In June, dockers in the port of Whangarei organised by the Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ) came under attack from a stevedoring company intent on employing external labour to do their work.  The company, NZL Group – formed as a result of the Dubai Ports selling off P&O operations – had backtracked on an understanding with the union by using non-MUNZ members to handle a cargo of fruit bound for Tokyo, leading to a protest by union members.  However, following solidarity action by the Japanese Seamen’s Union and the National Council of Dockworkers’ Unions of Japan (ZENKOKU-KOWAN), the company relented and was forced to come to the negotiating table.  Following a meeting on 16 June, an agreement was reached with the company to use MUNZ labour.

BONUS SUCCESS FOR INDIAN DOCKERS

Dockers in India have won a significant bonus for workers across the country’s ports.  There had been a dispute over the authorities’ attempts to introduce productivity rewards on a port-by-port basis rather than across the board.  Five union federations and the Indian Ports Association reached an agreement at the end of May that will see workers each benefit from 6,000 rupees (US$131) annual productivity-linked bonus, backdated to 2002/03.

IRAQI PORT UNION WINS VICTORY FOR UNION RIGHTS

The Port Workers’ Union at Khor Al-Zubeir Port has managed to overcome attempts to suppress them by the Iraqi government (see previous PIU).  A number of anti-union tactics were launched against the union after it complained of poor working conditions in March.  Following action by the ITF and dockers’ affiliates, the union reported at the end of May that the Order seeking to transfer board members of the union had been cancelled and that their withheld salaries had been received. They had also been reinstated and were negotiating reopening the union’s offices and committees.  The union thanks the ITF and its affiliates for their support.

ITF AFFILIATES SUPPORT ILWU BLUE DIAMOND DAY OF ACTION 

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 by 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 held in Vancouver.  The union has been working to organise the Blue Diamond Growers plant in Sacramento, California since 2004 despite an ongoing aggressive anti-union campaign.  During a rally in Vancouver, ITF General Secretary David Cockroft pledged the solidarity of the ITF.  At its meeting in Hong Kong at the end of May, the Dockers’ Section Committee reaffirmed this commitment in a resolution and pledged to support the ILWU in the run-up to and during its negotiations on the Pacific Maritime Agreement in 2008.

INDONESIAN PORT WORKERS AGREE 5 POINT DECLARATION

The Indonesian Port Workers Alliance (IPWA) organised a strategy seminar in Jakarta on 18 and 19 April to strengthen trade union responses to globalisation.  The event was attended by 20 unions across Indonesia, including seafarers’ and other transport unions.  The Maritime Union of Australia was invited and sent a solidarity delegation.  Hanafi Rustandi of Indonesian Seafarers’ Union, an ITF affiliate, also attended.  The seminar was reported to have been a major success in terms of its participation, and was an example of mobilisation and solidarity amongst regional ITF affiliates.  Participants agreed a five point Declaration as follows: 1)Development of union rank and file through education and training; 2)Stable and full employment in a healthy and safe environment; 3)Development of communication networks and mobilising solidarity; 4)Active union participation in the legislation process; and 5)Independence and democratic unionism.  The ITF looks forward to working with the IPWA to achieve these aims.

continue reading>>