ITF Dockers News.

Support grows for Norwegian dockers’ boycott

http://www.itfglobal.org/news-online/index.cfm/newsdetail/9843

21 November 2013

ETF- and ITF-affiliated transport unions from across Denmark, Sweden and Norway have pledged their support to dockers in Risavika Terminal who are now in the second week of their boycott.

Members of the Norwegian Transport Workers’ Union (NTF) began action in Risavika, near Stavanger, on 1 November, over the refusal of management to sign up to the national collective agreement covering dockworkers.

Instead employer Risavika Terminal AS, is said to be proposing to use seafarers to carry out cargo handling duties, in direct contravention of the ITF dockers’ clause which states that ship’s crew should not carry out work historically or traditionally done by dockers.

During the Scandinavian transport workers’ conference, 186 participants gave their full support to the NTF. In addition, dockers’ unions across Europe and worldwide have rallied to back workers in Risavika since the boycott began. Letters of solidarity have been sent from unions across the ETF and ITF regions.

A message from the NTF sent out to all ETF and ITF affiliates this week also urged dockers’ unions across Europe and worldwide, to be involved directly, or via lawful solidarity action, in a demonstration planned in Risavika on Wednesday 27 November. 

Chair of the ETF dockers’ committee with NTF Terje Samuelsen said: “The support being given to dockers here in Norway is invaluable. The struggle for an agreement at Risavika is just one example of the attack on dockers in Europe and around the world, and standing together to face that kind of threat head on is crucial. Companies want to erode good working conditions in our docks, crush unions and increase profits, but we can’t and won’t allow that to happen.”

For more on what you can do go to the solidarity page >> http://www.itfglobal.org/solidarity/Norwegian-dockers.cfm

Keep up to date on the latest developments in this dispute via the ITF Facebook page >> https://www.facebook.com/ITFglobal?ref=hl

ITF on Risavika: dockers’ work is dockers’ work!

http://www.itfglobal.org/press-area/index.cfm/pressdetail/9815

Tunisian ITF unions call strike in face of workers’ rights abuses

http://www.itfglobal.org/news-online/index.cfm/newsdetail/9841

21 November 2013

Transport sector workers in Tunisia have called a one-day strike on 12 December 2013 in response to the continuing erosion of workers’ rights.

ITF affiliates Fédération Nationale des Transports (FNT) and Union Générale Tunisienne du Travail (UGTT) have jointly called on Tunisia’s supervisory authority to stop its attack on trade unions. It has also demanded that all FNT/UGTT agreements must be recognised by the authority, that the culture of nepotism must be rejected in favour of transparent recruitment procedures, that the transport fleet must be renewed, and that the sector will continue to reject all attempts at privatisation.

The one-day strike follows on from several alarming incidents earlier this year. Members of the General Union of Maritime and Ports were reportedly gassed and intimidated by police during a general strike in March. This was followed by the indefinite suspension of one of the workers, during which time his monthly salary, meal receipts and medical treatment were withheld. In August, eight workers at Coast Transport Company who protested the harassment of their union general secretary were dismissed, demoted or suspended from work.

Bilal Malkawi, ITF Arab World regional secretary, backed the strike effort, saying: “Transport workers in Tunisia have kept the country moving since the beginning of the revolution in 2011. They’ve made many sacrifices in the course of fulfilling their work. As the country continues to repair itself in the wake of significant disruption, companies and authorities in Tunisia must recognise the vital role that transport workers play in its recovery. The repression must stop – and we back our affiliates all the way.”