SOLIDARNOŚĆ
SIGNS CBA WITH DCT GDANSK AFTER 3-YEAR DISPUTE
Polish ETF
affiliate Solidarność has signed yesterday, 20 April 2016, a collective
bargaining agreement (CBA) with Deepwater Container Terminal (DCT) Gdansk. This
settles a long lasting dispute between the port and its workforce including
complaints from the union over victimisation and harassment by the employer and
the firing of union leaders.
The agreement
follows demonstrations at DCT Gdansk and in other European countries with
support from the European and global trade union community. The CBA, 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.
The port seeks to become the main gateway to Russia and central Europe and
opens next year a second terminal providing jobs for 1,500 workers.
ETF and ITF dockers’ section vice-chair
Torben Seebold said:
“We are pleased that our brothers and sisters in Gdansk have won their battle
to secure a voice in their workplace. The
ITF and ETF family has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with them as they have fought
against the belligerent and intimidatory tactics of previous management. A
change in management at DCT Gdansk was overdue and now 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. 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.”
ETF
dockers’ section chair Terje Samuelsen concluded: “We are extremely proud of
the victory of our Polish members. This is a great example of international
solidarity among transport workers".
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Transport Workers' Federation
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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.”
