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Page context: Home > Transport International Magazine > Issue 24 July 2006 > Reflections

What does organising globally mean to you?

TI readers’ thoughts on the ITF's Congress theme

The transport workers of my country, especially the port workers, who have been fighting to defend our ports and workers’ rights for more than two decades, have learned the following lesson: that only organisation and solidarity between the national and international trade union movements will make it possible or ensure the timely triumph of our struggles to defend these noble causes. That is why the slogan of the 41st Congress of the ITF – “Organising globally, fighting for our rights” – is our watchword for the success of workers in struggle.
Adolfo Granadino, FENTENAPU, Peru

I believe “organising globally” means exposing the risks associated with shrinking job security worldwide.

We should agree to observe a “job security day” on a global basis. The ITF should make every effort to obstruct or stall such moves as contractualisation, outsourcing, and attempts to bring about changes in labour relations regulations.

The most crucial role would be to bring pressure to avoid sweeping changes in the structure of labour laws. In India, our Supreme Court has authorised the government to step up its privatisation activities in state-owned bodies including the airlines and railways. It has also recently ruled that government need not consult the unions on issues related to downsizing. Such undesirable interference by legal bodies causes enormous damage to the job security of transport workers, and should be subject to large scale protest by the ITF and its affiliates.
V.Bhagyavathi Harinath, Assistant General Seceretary, South Central Railway Mazdoor Union, Secunderabad, India

To me, organising globally means getting all workers of the world, irrespective of colour, culture, race, sex or religion, to see and treat each other as members of one big global family. But before then, organising nationally and regionally are necessary conditions. The right to work is paramount, and leads to the enjoyment of other rights. A threat to these rights anywhere is a threat to them everywhere. We should uphold the ILO theme: Universal and lasting peace can be established only if it is based upon social justice.
Halima Ibrahim, ATSSSAN, Nigeria

Among the delegates to the ITF’s Congress in Durban in August will be a 30-strong deputation from the Maritime Union of Australia. This includes 18 rank and file dockers and seafarers, four of whom share their thoughts below:

Organising globally keeps everyone under the one banner. The more people you have, the better result you get. You have to stand out and be counted. That’s why I put my hand up to learn more about the ITF and broaden my horizons, so I can come back (from ITF Congress) and be a more effective and active delegate. With the new industrial relations laws here it’s more important now than ever that we all stick together as one and have the same goals. If it’s impossible to organise effectively locally, we have to go beyond national boundaries and organise globally to win.
Scott Carter, docker, Toll, Port Kembla, New South Wales

I’ve always been involved in FOC campaigning. Whether as wharfies or seamen our commitment to the ITF is most important and for the solidarity of all unions worldwide. Organising globally is about unionists worldwide standing by each other and fighting for each other, our families and our children.
Mark Lang, docker, Maritime Wharf, Patrick/Toll, Brisbane, Queensland

The multinationals are globalising so it’s only smart we’re globalising with other unions. I get to talk to foreign seafarers and hear their stories about their food and conditions and lack of pay. Everyone has the right to a fair day’s pay and to come home safe and look after your family. Anything I can do to help fellow seafarers anywhere in the world I will do. We have to look after each other.

It’s important rank and file workers are going (to ITF Congress) because ultimately we are the ones who will get the message out to the workers, when we get back – let them know we are not alone and there are other people out there suffering, who have the same problems as us.
Jack McCabe, desalination plant, rigger and dogman on a barge, Kwinana, Western Australia

It’s got to be an international movement. We’ve got to be solid. Work is becoming corporatised. The way these guys are buying each other out and strengthening themselves, we’ve got to do the same. The union officials have been building the bridges and we’re crossing them. We’ve got to bring the word back about what is happening globally, what people are doing in other ports to help us and what we can do to help them.
Michael Marketo, Port Botany wharfie P&O (DP World)

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Issue 24 July 2006

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