The Justice for Pedro Zamora Campaign and STEPQ also received the full backing of the Dockers’ Section, the Fair Practices Committee and ITF Coordinators in their meetings in Sorrento in March.  A number of unions have made generous donations, and collections have been taken by Francophone African unions, Panamanian unions and ITF Coordinators to help support Pedro’s family and the union’s campaign against privatisation. 

We need to intensify the campaign as the threats to the union leaders and their families show no sign of abating.  We are very concerned for their safety.  We ask all ITF affiliates to mobilise their politicians to call on the Guatemalan government to investigate and prosecute those involved in Pedro’s killing and to protect STEPQ leaders.  We also urge unions to do whatever they can to support STEPQ’s struggle.  More information on what you can do:

http://www.itfglobal.org/campaigns/zamora.cfm 

DOCKERS WIN AGREEMENTS IN INDONESIA

The Trade Union of the Jakarta International Container Terminal and the Serikat Pekerja Terminal Petikemas Koja have been successful in resolving their disputes with international port operator, Hutchison.  Following initially difficult negotiations, the JICT union has managed to sign an agreement to implement fully, 10 disputed articles in its CBA.  After a long delay and industrial action, the TPK union has also managed to get the company to sign a collective bargaining agreement that is acceptable to workers in the terminal.

HAMBURG DOCKERS WIN IMPORTANT CONCESSION IN PRIVATISATION FIGHT

Members of ITF affiliated Ver.di in Germany have won a major concession in their struggle to prevent the sell-off of half of Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA), the company that runs the port of Hamburg.  Mayor Ole von Beust has suspended bidding for the senate’s 49.9% stake in HHLA, which was to be sold to a private investor.  The dockers had threatened to refuse to work overtime from 1 February.  They were concerned that the new owner would be unlikely to remain a member of the employers’ association and would no longer pay workers the nationally negotiated wages.  A number of big operators were reportedly interested in the sale.  The flotation of a 30% stake will now be carried out instead.

MOROCCAN DOCKERS’ JOBS SAVED

Unions will recall that in the last Update, we reported that the Moroccan government had planned to dismiss some 2,000 dockers who were members of the Union des Syndicats UMT des Transport, as part of a port reform package.  The ITF and the ETF wrote to the government in protest.  French, Spanish and Arab World affiliates also supported the campaign.  We are pleased to report that the union has signed a CBA with the government that guarantees the jobs and positions of all those workers. The union thanks all affiliates who stood in solidarity with them during the dispute.

IRAQI PORTWORKERS OVERCOME THE ODDS

Iraqi dockworker unions participated in a campaigning skills workshop in Amman, Jordan at the end of January.  The event was organised by the ITF’s Arab World Office and funded by the AFL-CIO’s Solidarity Centre.  The Dockers’ Assistant Secretary also participated in the workshop, which highlighted the difficult circumstances in which Iraqi unions have to operate.  One of their key struggles was to repeal a law introduced by Saddam Hussein, precluding public sector workers from joining unions and changing the status of workers and their entitlements.  During the course of the workshop, the courage and determination of the unions to organise and improve conditions for workers in the ports was very clear.  The Dockers’ Section will continue to support their efforts and will work with other ITF Sections and international union organisations to achieve this.

2.  HEALTH AND SAFETY

MUA CAMPAIGN FOR DOCKERS’ SAFETY

The Maritime Union of Australia is putting pressure on its government to ensure port safety following the deaths of three dockworkers on the job - Dean Robinson, Peter Ross and very recently, Bob Cumberlidge, a well-known MUA activist.  The union has the backing of stevedoring companies for a national safety code but there is no government support.  In January, Paddy Crumlin, its National Secretary and ITF Dockers’ Section Chair, said: "We're sick of raising our concerns about the lack of proper safety standards in the unique national industry. Lives are being lost at a greater rate than ever before but the Federal Government refuses to do anything. We've been prepared to work with all stakeholders in the industry for a safe working code and have made constant appeals in recent years. But nothing has been done.”  “We are again urgently calling on both federal and state governments to put politics and rhetoric aside, pull their finger out and address this life and death matter."  The ITF Dockers’ Section meeting in Sorrento discussed the issue and unanimously agreed to adopt a resolution on safety and health in ports that clearly identified the links between productivity, fatigue and fatalities.  The meeting also expressed its sympathy to the families of fallen comrades and stood in a minute’s silence as a mark of respect.

SELF-HANDLING ACCIDENT KILLS SEAFARER IN DUTCH PORT

Early this year, a Filipino seafarer was crushed to death by an eight-ton container on an Antigua and Barbuda-flagged vessel berthed in the port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands. The tragedy happened while crewmembers were lashing cargo.  The accident took place on board the mv Eucon Leader, owned by the German company, Bernd Becker KG, while it was moored at Rotterdam Shortsea Terminal on 21 January, according to the Dutch affiliate FNV Bondgenoten. The vessel was covered by an International Bargaining Forum (IBF) agreement, preventing cargo handling and lashing by seafarers unless the local dockers’ union was contacted to waive the relevant clause - this did not occur.  The union had on several previous occasions reminded the manager of the vessel about the cargo-handling clause, but to no avail.  The union has vowed to take action if this issue is not resolved. The ITF has called for the company to ensure that managers of the vessel are aware of their obligations under the IBF agreement.

TOXIC FUMES KILL FILIPINO DOCKERS

Two stevedores died and 10 were hospitalised after inhaling chemical fumes at the Port of Zamboanga in the Philippines early this year, according to a Lloyds List report.  The stevedores were unloading sacks of copra and seaweed when they were overcome by poisonous fumes. The chemical fumes were leaking from the cargo deck of a passenger/cargo ship.  Initial investigations showed that poor ventilation had led to a build up of toxic fumes on the cargo deck of the 494-gt vessel ‘KC Beatriz’.  ITF Dockers’ Section Secretary, Frank Leys informed all affiliates of the incident, stressing the importance of ventilation hatches.

TALLY CLERK ACCIDENT IN PORT KLANG

ITF affiliate UNEPASS in Malaysia reported that at the end of last year, a 66 year old tally clerk was killed while performing his duties.  According to some sources, he was checking the seal number of the container when a trailer reversed and crushed him to death.  UNEPASS has sent a protest letter to the Klang Port Authority.  The union had raised concerns about checking seal numbers of containers three years ago and met with the Shipping Agents Association.  It was agreed that tally clerks were no longer required to do this.  The union has called for an investigation.

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