Protest strikes hit docks
Socialist Press1981 1981-03-18Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 8 →
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Three consecutive 24hour strikes have left the port of Southampton strike bound as militant dock workers build up support for their 1981 pay claim.
The 2,000 strong workforce took immediate unofficial action after rejecting a derisory 9% pay offer and further meetings between union leaders and the employer have been cancelled.
The British Transport Docks Board (BTDB) have issued a direct ultimatum to every worker-either work normally or not all. Dockers' leader Ritchie Pearce (TGWU) revealed that the men were sent home on Friday within minutes of their refusing to give these assurances.
This provocation means that workers now face an indefinite lock-out by the employer.
Although called around the pay issue, the strike reflects workers' deep hostility to the continuing run-down of this nationalised industry.
The denationalising Transport Act intends to transform the BTDB into a new British Ports Company with private capital having a 50% stake and overall control.
The Southampton port made a surplus of £13 million last year and is clearly seen as a main target for these vultures.
Workers know that this will mean wage cuts and demands for higher productivity. They also know they face an Edwardes-type confrontation too.
Only if they extend their strike action throughout the BTDB can workers win their pay claim in full. Only if they seek a programme of action throughout the BTDB can they defend their jobs and condi tions.
*Demand TGWU and NUR plan blacking actions.
*For renationalisation of any denationalised docks.
*Open the books of the employers to elected committees of trade unionists. Liberal council leader Sir Trevor Jones (who is himself currently sacking 3,000 council workers and even six workers from his own small business!)
In the event, however, Thatcher refused to even see the lobbyers, referring them contemptuously to her Agriculture Minister Walker.
Even after this sharp slap in the face, the "Action" Comon some of the points in the letter, in particular on whether he was accountable to the membership or the bureaucracy!
Humphries, nervous, ruffled and on the defensive, managed to blurt out that he would carry out the decisions of the Action Committee "even if this meant burning the refinery down"!
Then recovering somewhat from his disarray, he countered, the occupation of all threatened refineries at BSC and Tate and Lyle, coupled with supporting strike action throughout the It also calls for a joint occupation committee with Courtaulds, the council works department (who face 3,000 sackings) and the docks where 1,000 voluntary redundancies are being sought.