Calls for Honduran
embassy action worldwide over abuses in Puerto Cortés
19 March 2014
ITF affiliates are being called on to organ ise action at Honduran
embassies in their countries in coming days to highlight concern over the
ongoing intimidation an d
victimisation of dockers’ union members at Puerto Cortės.
A demonstration is plan ned
at the London embassy on Thursday (20 March). An ITF delegation including
acting general secretary Steve Cotton
an d president an d
chair of the dockers’ section Paddy Crumlin, will meet with the Honduran Ambassador to the UK to discuss the appalling
treatment of Sindicato Gremial de Trabajadores del Muelle (SGTM) members.
In a letter to be han ded
over during the meeting, Cotton
says: “There have been a myriad of human
rights abuses an d threats to the
life an d liberty of union members
(in Puerto Cortės) because of their legitimate requests to their employer for
negotiation over a collective bargaining agreement at the port.”
To date the leader of the SGTM Victor Crespo, who will also
meet with the Ambassador, has been forced to flee Honduras after attempts on
his life; his father was then killed under suspicious circumstan ces. The SGTM treasurer was dismissed for no valid
reason an d union members were
arrested an d charged with terrorism
after peaceful protests in the port in February. Most recently Honduran police visited SGTM headquarters looking for
members who participated in a legal an d
peaceful protest organ ised by the
ILWU at an ICTSI operated terminal
in Portlan d, USA.
The letter continues: “We feel it is imperative that this
matter is brought to the attention of your nation’s government. Steps must be
taken to bring a swift end to this long running an ti
union campaign in Honduras. Securing this action has become a priority for
trade unionists around the world who will be contacting an d
visiting Honduran embassies in their
own countries over the coming days to express support for their colleagues.”
Organ ise an action at the Honduran
embassy where you are an d send
reports an d pictures to dockers@itf.org.uk
Take a look at the ITFglobal Facebook page for updates https://www.facebook.com/ITFglobal
.
Investigation promised into abuses against dockers’
union in Honduras
21 March 2014
‘Investigation an d
engagement’ have been promised by the Honduran
Ambassador to the UK, over the ongoing trade union rights abuses against ITF
affiliated union members in Puerto Cortés.
Victor Crespo, leader of the Sindicato Gremial de
Trabajadores del Muelle (SGTM), joined ITF president an d
chair of the dockers’ section Paddy Crumlin, acting general secretary Steve Cotton an d
maritime coordinator Tomas Abrahamson, in a meeting with the Honduran Ambassador to the UK in London on Thursday (March
20).
Mean while members
of the ITF dockers’ section committee representing port workers worldwide, held
a demonstration outside the embassy calling for ‘negotiation not intimidation’.
SGTM members have been subject to a catalogue of human an d
trade union rights abuses in Puerto Cortés, where global terminal operator
ICTSI won the concession to run the port in September 2012. The union has been
trying to negotiate with the compan y’s
subsidiary in Honduras over a collective bargaining agreement for workers.
To date Victor Crespo has been forced to flee Honduras after
attempts on his life; his father was then killed under suspicious circumstan ces. Union members were arrested an d charged with terrorism after peaceful protests
in the port in February. Most recently Honduran
police visited SGTM headquarters looking for members who participated in a
legal an d peaceful protest organ ised by the ILWU at an
ICTSI operated terminal in Portlan d,
USA.
On the steps of the embassy on Thursday Crumlin said: “We
have had a productive, open an d fran k conversation. The Ambassador has agreed that
there should be an investigation
into the abuses of trade union rights, an d
human rights being reported in
Puerto Cortés. We have all agreed, all of us, that engagement from all sides is
essential if we’re to bring about an
end to this situation.”
There’s a call to ITF unions to organ ise
their own actions at Honduran
embassies over the coming days an d
weeks to demonstrate the ongoing solidarity with brothers an d sisters facing oppression in Honduras.
Find out more: www.sosvictor.org
Dispute escalates in Belgium as attack on EU dockers
continues
26 March 2014
The Europe-wide fight to protect dockers' work is continuing
as a dispute in the port of Antwerp, Belgium escalates.
The ETF an d ITF
are supporting affiliated unions throughout the region as they deal with
attacks via European Union an d national legislation, an d
direct through employers.
The Common Trade Union Front for the Port of Antwerp (GVHA)
which represents ABVV-BTB, ACV Tran scom
an d ACLVB, is involved in a conflict
with employer LOGISPORT over attempts to undermine the status of port workers
which is protected by the Belgian
Law on Port Labour.
More than 250
dockers were involved in action on 12 March, including blockades at the gate of
Katoennatie in quay 1227. The GVHA has outlined its intention to take further
action if man agement fails to meet
union representatives around the negotiating table.
A statement from the GVHA said: "We have never been
known for going ahead with reckless
actions; we have always tried to find a solution by mean s
of industrial consultation. However, the statements an d
letters originating from Mr HUTS (of LOGISPORT) in the course of recent months
leave us with no other choice."
Following industrial action by GVHA members in June 2013
regarding the non-complian ce to the
port labour legislation by LOGISPORT, an
agreement was made to find a solution through social dialogue. To date, despite
mediation by a Joint Subcommittee, attempts by GVHA to enter into open
negotiation with man agement have
failed.
The statement concluded: ”We will not allow the status of
dock labour to be undermined by unreliable individuals. Therefore we give today
a clear warning to Mr HUTS an d
LOGISPORT: Start the social dialogue! Show some respect for our Law on Dock
Labour!”
In the mean time
there is concern that a ruling later in March could find the Belgium national
port law in breach of EU laws governing port work. Allegedly it comes following
complaints from some employers in the port of Antwerp which have been
sympathetically received by the European
Commission.
ETF dockers’ section secretary Livia Spera said: “The ETF an d ITF are united in criticising the attitude of
the Euopean Commission which, over
the last years has been prompting the presentation of complaints on the organ isation of port labour. This is not coherent with
the declared intention to support social dialogue, as infringement procedures an d court cases only contribute to social unrest an d the triggering of disputes.”
Find out more about the ongoing attack on dockers across
Europe >>
Watch this film on the dockers' fightback >>
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