Celebration
as Polish dockers’ union wins new deal
“The
ITF family has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with them as they have fought against
the belligerent and intimidatory tactics of previous management. We are hopeful
that dockers there can have better standards that are consistent with those in
neighbouring countries. It is no less than they deserve.”
20/04/2016
That from ITF dockers’ section vice-chair Torben Seebold after a collective
bargaining agreement was signed between ITF-affiliated Polish dockers’ union
Solidarność and Deepwater Container Terminal (DCT) Gdansk.
It brings an end to a bitter three-year dispute that has
included complaints from the union over victimisation and harassment by the
employer and the firing of union leaders. There has been support from the
global trade union community with demonstrations at DCT Gdansk and in other
European countries targeting the bank that owns the port, Macquarie.
The historic agreement, valid until 31 March 2019, covers
pay rates, hours of work, holidays and general conditions for 600 workers at
the fast-growing new terminal in northern Poland. A second terminal is due to
open next year and the workforce will grow to 1500 workers as the port seeks to
become the main gateway to Russia and central Europe.
Seebold
said: “We are sending out an important message to all port owners; we will not
let you get away with trying to drive down pay and conditions by building new
ports and employing cheap labour.”
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