Published: 6 Jan 2012
The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) has launched a campaign for unions to express solidarity with their comrades at DP World in Australia, who have been threatened with a company lockout in Melbourne amid their battle for better conditions and stable employment.
In less than 24 hours unions totalling a docker representation of almost 30,000 have sent messages of solidarity to their comrades at DP World in Australia.
Amongst those are the Maritime Union of New Zealand, National Federation of Dockworkers Unions of Japan, Union of Hong Kong Dockers, 3F Denmark, NSICT(DPW) Bunder Kamgar Union and Unite (DPWS).
The text of the first of the letters to arrive is below:
Dear Brothers and Sisters of the MUA,
United as dockers, wharfies and longshoremen
We, the Rail And Maritime Transport Union, as fellow members of the ITF dockers' family would like to express our outrage and concern on hearing that DPW intends to lock out workers at the Port of Melbourne on 10 January in a bid to further impact on negotiations over pay and working conditions.
This move is both aggressive and misguided and is of grave concern to the international dockworkers community. By targeting workers in locations across Australia with these extreme measures, DPW is negatively impacting its own customers and the reputation of Australian business, whilst also failing to live up to recent claims that its employees are treated as 'the greatest asset' of the company.
We condemn DPW's behaviour towards workers and will be standing with you in solidarity as you pursue serious dialogue to negotiate a fair agreement on pay and working conditions for your members. We will continue to support your legal and justified industrial action. As affiliates of the ITF and along with many dockworkers and dockers' unions worldwide, we join with you and your families in this struggle.
In solidarity,
Aubrey Wilkinson
National President
Rail & Maritime Transport Union
New Zealand
