23.01.1997

Consolidate support

The national conference of Liverpool dockers support groups on January 18 was charged with the task of consolidating support in Britain for the 500 sacked dockers.

The conference addressed only one motion, submitted to it from the shop stewards’ meeting of the previous weekend, with amendments invited from the floor. It moved that the support groups should pursue the dispute through:

• publicity, pickets and protests
• a mass rally in Liverpool
• workplace meetings with dockers speaking
• boycott of goods through the port
• work to shut down services at the port
• work with the European march for jobs and welfare, planned for May

The motion was supported unanimously by the assembled conference. Debate on motions and amendments highlighted a couple of important issues: A future Labour government will, if given half a chance, attempt to cut the dockers’ throats. So any demands made upon them must be concrete, to “reinstate” no just to “intervene”.

The biggest interference at the moment is from Bill Morris trying to force the dockers into a postal ballot (on an unofficial dispute?). What the dockers want from Morris is for him to stop blocking solidarity, stop criticising the dockers and start attacking the MDHC instead.

Amendments calling on the TGWU to levy its members and break the anti-trade union laws were said by the chair to be out of place in a support group forum, but that action within the union will be sought at this year’s biennial delegate conference.

The conference further highlighted the need for cash and the ongoing campaign against Argos, which is still sending containers out through the port of Liverpool. After the surge of support at Christmas cash flow is now down to a trickle.

Steve Riley