It is with a profound and deep sense of sadness that the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) heard the news of the passing of P.M. Mohammed Haneef – the President of our Indian affiliate, the All India Port and Dock Workers’ Federation.
Mr Haneef’s passing is a moment that all trade unionists should mark. He was truly among the best of us: a committed and dynamic leader, a negotiator of the very highest calibre, and a true comrade and pillar of strength to all who knew or worked with him.
Mr Haneef – ‘Haneefji’ – leaves behind him a legacy of 55 years in our movement; 55 years spent relentlessly organising, advocating and winning for workers.
His skills as a trade unionist were exceptional and unique.
Haneefji was only 18 when he became a clerk at Cochin Port Trust. He was a rank-and-file member of his union, rapidly progressing to become a leader for different unions at state, national and international levels.
He never lost his razor-sharp focus on winning justice and dignity for workers and the working class, but nor did he lose his principled sense of courtesy and warmth, always on display to all those he met.
These qualities are clear in Haneefji’s achievements for India’s port and dock workers.
So great was his impact on collective bargaining for port and dock workers’ wages that the formal process of Bipartite Wage Negotiations in India’s port sector is synonymous with his name.
Through the creation of the National Coordination Committee of Major Port Workers’ Federations, Haneefji unified India’s port and dock workers into one voice with one common cause: securing the wages and working conditions of port and dock workers.
We are among those who know that without this unity, the wage revision process that has taken place since 2012 may never have come about – and with it, the plight of so many workers would have been so much worse.
For the ITF, Haneefji was a leading member of the Dockers’ Section Committee and a Steering Group Member of our Fair Practises Committee, where he helped to govern and coordinate many successful global campaigns including the vital, long-running campaign on Flags of Convenience. And in those spaces too, his warmth, sharp analysis and wise words will be truly missed.
He always made important contributions to the strengthening of dockworkers’ campaigns that resulted not only in many successful outcomes for dockers internationally, but also greatly reinforced seafarers’ rights in turn through dockworker solidarity in the Flag of Convenience campaign
Haneefji, was not only a brother, comrade and friend to us both, but also to the international dockworkers and ITF family. We join with them in again offering our deepest sympathies and condolences to his family , comrades and friends on his loss after a long and rewarding life as a true internationalist and working-class leader
Farewell, Brother Haneef. A man of family, dockers, and a fighter for peace and justice for all working women and men everywhere.
May your soul rest in peace.
ITF President, Paddy Crumlin
ITF General Secretary, Stephen Cotton
