The ITF DP World global union alliance is setting out its first series of objectives during a major ITF dockers’ conference in Cape Town, South Africa this week.
ITF president and dockers’ section chair Paddy Crumlin said: “This alliance is part of our ongoing response to global multinationals that behave differently depending on whey are operating in the world. We can’t and won’t accept that. We are striving for minimum standards across the board on health and safety, automation and contract labour. We are standing up to say that whether you’re in India, Canada, South America or the UK, union busting activities will not be tolerated and there is a global network of unions ready to demonstrate that. Competition and corporate growth based upon exploiting and diminishing dockers’ rights cannot be tolerated.”
“We are confident DP World, as an international entity, will engage with our concerns and apply consistent and transparent standards of decent work, union recognition and respect for social partnership and bargaining rights in all their operations.”
The alliance includes 17 unions organising in DP World terminals across the globe.
Steve Biggs of Unite the Union is based in DP World Southampton. He was one of the first to sign up: “This alliance provides a great opportunity for national unions to share bargaining information and to coordinate together with the ITF to demand greater consistency on issues that are important for our members
“The aim of this alliance is very simple - it’s about coming together and recognising where we’re strong and where we face challenges. It’s a chance to share information and recognise that while there are particular issues facing different regions and countries, essentially having one unified group is going to put us in the best possible position to make headway with this multinational as we seek dialogue and cooperation from them globally.”
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