10.04.1997

Cosmetic exercise

Jimmy Nolan, chair of the Liverpool Docks Shop Stewards’ Committee, told us about the proposed labour supply company

The definition of a cooperative is that the working man or woman controls the distribution of production and exchange. There is no way the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company are going to concede all capital in the port of Liverpool to ourselves.

What had been proposed here was a labour supply company. This has happened in several countries where strong trade unionism supplied labour - in the case of the docks, to shipping consortia and port users.

We are prepared to adopt that principle. But the business consultants that have been asked to examine the possibility of a labour supply company are saying that the MDHC are only considering its implementation in one small area. That only covers about 40 workers and is not at all acceptable to us.

We are saying that if they are not prepared to examine a company which supplies labour to all the functions, not just of the MDHC, but of any part of this port, which includes Birkenhead, it is only a cosmetic exercise that the MDHC have entered into with the Transport and General Workers Union. We are pursuing full reinstatement.

We are also making it clear that we must be reinstated with our pension benefits protected. Once again there is confusion. Once you are dismissed it becomes a deferred pension. We are demanding continuity in pension once reinstated, and we must be entitled to any advancements in pension benefits. If such a company is established, we must be able to continue to pay into the pension scheme.

We got dismissed for refusing to cross a picket line, which historically is the tradition of our forefathers who fought for trade unionism.

The government is still the biggest shareholder in the MDHC with a 13% stake. So any Labour government now should make clear that what was done to the dockworkers was unfair.

In 1934 there was a big strike amongst dockworkers on the west coast of America, joined by other workers. What was won was the right of longshoremen to have proper pay and conditions. The only way that could be realised was if they had supply of the labour. That was born out of a workers’ victory. But, with these consultants being set up by the MDHC, the intention is clearly to end the dispute under worse conditions and without full reinstatement.

It was political legislation which created the problem for trade unionism, because the working class stopped fighting on the political front, so political organisation is essential now. Workers must challenge political power.