Global news

World dockworkers' solidarity pledge
Unions representing workers at APM Terminals,
Hutchison, Dubai Ports World and PSA International
took firm steps forward in September, planning future
strategies and vowing to increase workers' organisation along
major transport chains.
Fifty port workers' representatives from
the world's largest port terminal operators gathered in Antwerp,
Belgium on 18-19 September.
They welcomed organising successes
achieved in key ports in all the global port operating networks,
reaffirmed their shared aim of setting standards in all ports and
terminals worldwide, and planned for future achievements.
The meeting agreed on a declaration of solidarity covering
workers in all Global Network
Terminals (GNTs). ITF dockers chair
and MUA National Secretary Paddy
Crumlin explained:
"We are seeking global dialogue but at
the same time, we are prepared to
fight for workers' rights and good
safety practices. The GNTs need to
demonstrate good governance in their
global relationships with their
workforce. Unions here have made a
strong commitment to support each other to stamp out any
threats to ports workers and to their communities – and to work
together to build labour solidarity throughout the transport chain.
"In these uncertain times, dock workers stand resolutely
together with all transport workers, whose efforts keep the
wheels of the global economy turning," he added.
The Antwerp meeting established an organising plan to
consolidate union organisation in companies owned by global
network terminal operators.
The organising campaign includes the establishment of regional
and international networking inside companies by dockers'
unions represented, as well as a structure of communication and
practical training support between unions to build more
effective representation and industrial capacity.
"The ITF and dockworkers' section is taking many of the lessons
from the Liverpool dockers' dispute, the Patrick dispute, the
European Directives, the ILWU lockout and the Charleston Five
dispute to build stronger and more effective unions and dockers'
networks under adverse commercial and political pressure on those
workers' rights and working conditions," said Paddy Crumlin.
"It also a campaign linking together dockworkers internationally
to deliver better safety standards and communication on how to
protect and secure our members from injury and death regardless
of nationality," he said. The workshop followed a highly
successful ITF Maersk network bringing together affiliates
representing workers from the company in many maritime and
transport industries including dockers employed in APM
terminals and towage seafarers
employed by Svitzer.
The full text of
the ITF Dockers' Section solidarity
statement follows
Delegates at the Global Network
Terminals (GNTs) meeting, taking place
in Antwerp on September 18-19, with
the participation of 50 port workers'
representatives around the world:
REAFFIRM the principle of setting
decent labour standards throughout
the ports sector worldwide, including in GNT operators,
WELCOME the important organising successes that have been
achieved by brothers and sisters working in APM Terminals,
Hutchison, Dubai Ports World and PSA International,
throughout the ITF's world regions,
RESOLVE to use solidarity, campaigning and organising
methods to support the ITF to achieve a global dialogue with
the GNT operators, aimed to ensure best practice and good
governance in the three priority areas of occupational health and
safety, collective bargaining, and freedom of association,
FURTHER RESOLVE together to take forward a clear GNTs
strategy within the ITF family, to seek dialogue but also to
support each other mutually to fight for improvements for
workers in ports, and where necessary to stamp out anti-union
behaviour by GNT managers, publicise workers' rights violations
and ensure zero tolerance of bad safety practices in all GNTs.

MUA YOUTH GO GLOBAL

A delegation of five Maritime Union
members flew to Brussels in October to
join 70 young transport workers from
around the world at the International
Transport Workers’ Federation Youth
Conference. They were Luke Bracken, Victoria
Branch wharfie; George Gakis, WA seafarer;
Adam McArthur, SQLD wharfie; Brooke
O’Mara, NQLD MUA organiser; and Paul
McALeer, Sydney Branch assistant secretary.
“The tragic circumstance that workers find
themselves in many countries around the
world was a reality check,” said Paul.
“Delegates could put their struggles in the
context not only of their own countries but
also in the greater context of international
capitalism and its inherent feature of
exploitation on a global scale.”
MUA POSITION PAPER
The MUA put a position framework to the
conference calling on the ITF to set up an
International Youth Coordinating Committee
made of male and female representatives
from each of the five continents. The aim is
to establish a global network with youth
representatives responsible for
disseminating information and coordinating
international campaigns and activities in
conjunction with their union. The MUA also
called for the committee to develop a youth
policy for next ITF Congress.
ITUC RALLY
The Australian delegation also participated in the
launch of World Day for Decent Work organised by
the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)
outside the European Commission on October 7. It
was one of 300 activities and demonstrations held
worldwide on the day emphasising three themes:
rights at work, international solidarity and the
eradication of poverty and inequality.
At the rally workers were locked inside a large
container plastered with the ITUC slogan “workers
are not tools” before being symbolically released
as a statement of freedom that all workers should
have as their basic right.
“It was a huge success, said Brooke. “We all signed
the decent work, decent life petition (covering
ideals of decent work, rights, social protection,
trade, debt, aid and migration), which was then
presented to parliamentarians.
“It was heartening to see young workers take a
stand, ready to contribute to pressing the
objectives of the petition,” she said. “Employment
is a crucial factor for achieving these objectives,
which is why all governments should be urged to
work more on the creation of decent jobs.”
BRUSSELS DECLARATION
The ITF conference unanimously endorsed the
following declaration: “We the young workers of the
ITF, hereby pledge the following:
“We will act in global solidarity to fight for the
eradication of oppression, exploitation, poverty,
environmental destruction and social injustice.
“We will work to eliminate discrimination and
communication barriers that divide workers, while
promoting internationalism.
“We will stand with all workers in struggle and
actively campaign for the protection and
advancement of international labour standards and
human rights.”
NATIONAL YOUTH CONFERENCE
On their return to Australia the MUA international
delegation joined the MUA National Youth
Conference in Melbourne on October 27, where the
Brussels declaration was adopted by the 70 youth
delegates from around the nation.

OBAMA ELECTION A
LABOUR VICTORY
THE ELECTION OF BARACK OBAMA
AS US PRESIDENT IS A VICTORY
FOR US LABOUR AND WOULD NOT
HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT
UNIONS GETTING BEHIND THE
CAMPAIGN IN KEY SWING STATES
The US now has a new president committed to
protecting workers’ rights and national flag
shipping. But it may not have been possible
without the 250,000 union volunteers who
worked tirelessly, making 67 million phone calls,
and knocking on 14 million doors to ensure the 13
million union voters in 24 battleground states
voted overwhelmingly for the Democrats,
according to exit polling by the US federation of
labour AFL-CIO.
Among them were International Longshore and
Warehouse Union members in the swing states of
Oregon, Colorado, Alaska, Nevada and New Mexico
– longshore workers like George Romera and his
wife Diane, De Andrew, Hollywood Whitten and Sal
Pardo who went door to door talking to people
about their vote.
International Longshoremen’s Association
members like Dennis Poole, Wendy Campbell and
William Woods, descendents of so many bitter
years of slavery, wage slavery and racism under
consecutive conservative governments – ILA
members who like so many American workers
fought for the election of the first African American
president of the USA. President elect Barack
Obama acknowledged their contribution in his
victory speech saying the Democratic campaign
was "built by working men and women who dug
into what little savings they had to give”.
KEY POLICIES
In his letter of congratulations to the leadership of
all three US maritime unions, MUA National
Secretary Paddy Crumlin highlighted the
contribution US maritime unions made towards
ending one of the most conservative and damaging
regimes in US history and electing a new leader
who is committed to adopting key policies
benefiting maritime workers at home and abroad.
"As an honorary SIU member, I personally take
great pride in the role the union has played in
successfully 'rocking the boat' and sending the
Bush administration overboard,” Paddy Crumlin
wrote in his letter of congratulations to Mike Sacco,
president of the Seafarers' International Union.
“That you also ensured that the president-elect
endorsed SIU and ITF policies for national flag
shipping makes the victory even sweeter and
more important for all US and international
seafarers and maritime workers. We had reached
a time when the long-held bipartisan US
government support for cabotage was under
threat from self–proclaimed free trader John
McCain who seemed poised to repeal the Jones
Act, and allow foreign vessels with foreign crews
to carry US taxpayer-funded commodities.”
Before the election Barack Obama pledged that "in
peace and in war, our mariners have stood with us
and my administration will stand with them." He
committed his administration to uphold the Jones
Act and cargo preference laws, exclude maritime
services from international trade agreements and
preserve all principles of US maritime policy.
LABOUR STANDARDS
The new president also provided a written
commitment to the ILWU to:
• Include labour and environment standards in
trade agreements around the world
• Support Blue Diamond workers
• Support the Employee Free Choice Act
• Support rights for workers to organise and
collectively bargain
• Support the right to union representation on the
National Labor Relations Board
• Give workers a voice in the workplace and
educate the American public about the
importance of unions and their essential role in
the political process, in democracy and in the
economy.
“We know you also have Obama's written
commitment to universal health care, to regulate
and restore the integrity of banking and financial
sectors and promote world peace,” Paddy Crumlin
wrote. The MUA National Secretary also
congratulated Ritchie Hughes, president of the
International Longshoremen's Association.
UNBLEMISHED RECORD
“Obama's voting record on workers' rights is
unblemished,” Paddy Crumlin wrote. “And his
commitment to protect the pensions of ILA
members and waive taxes on union health care
benefits reflects his personal commitment to
honour your union's endorsement of his
campaign for president and commit to improving
the lives of working families.
“The ILA has done much over the years to advance
the economic future of black workers, so many of
whom make up your membership. Like Obama,
the ILA has represented hope that working
families whatever their ethnic background can
work with dignity and pride. Gerry Owens, Ken
Riley and other Afro American officers of the ILA
must be taking special pride in the extraordinary
achievement of Obama and the ILA's campaign to
have him elected.”
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union
was among the first unions to endorse Obama,
even before he won the Democratic campaign.
“You've done Harry Bridges proud,” Paddy Crumlin
wrote in his letter of congratulations to Bob
McEllrath, ILWU President. “Your campaign
embodies the values of the union and its leaders
– industrial rights cannot be separated from
political leadership. We know this election will
benefit workers and their families worldwide, not
just in the US.”
The National Secretary also congratulated ILWU
Secretary Treasurer Willie Adams, “who as an
African American leader and serving ILWU official
would take special pride in seeing the first black
president and world leader take the stage and
continue the Martin Luther King dream of a civil
rights/labour coalition that gives black workers
dignity and pride.”