Trond Andresen
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On 4/11/98, at 5:56 PM, David Cockroft <cockroft_david@itf.org.uk>
wrote:
>
>ITF
>INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT WORKERS' FEDERATION
>49-60 BOROUGH RD,LONDON, SE1 1DS
>TEL 0171 403 2733 : FAX 0171 357 7871
>EMAIL : MAIL@ITF.ORG.UK
>-----------------------------------------
>
>PRESS STATEMENT
>
>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE,SATURDAY 11 APRIL 1988
>
>LEGAL ATTACK ON ITF `WILL INTENSIFY' SUPPORT FOR MUA
>
>The unprecedented legal attack in the English Courts on the right of the
>International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) to carry out its
>central function of co-ordinating international solidarity is likely to
>intensify support by ITF affiliated seafarer and docker unions around
>the world for the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) in its fight to
>reinstate the 2000 dockers sacked by Australian port company Patricks.
>..
>That was the reaction of ITF General Secretary David Cockroft to the
>news that Patrick Stevedores, with the obvious connivance of the
>Australian government had secured a temporary seven day injunction in
>the English High Court designed to stop the London based ITF
>Secretariat from taking any action against Patricks' economic interests.
>
> "In view of the threatening statements made by Workplace Relations
>Minister Peter Reith earlier in the week, this action comes as no
>surprise" said Cockroft. "We are certain that this injunction, granted
>to cover the period of the Easter holidays will not be sustained once we
>have had the opportunity to present our case to the Court. Unlike
>lawbreaker Patricks, which has openly flouted an Australian court
>injunction obtained by the Maritime Union of Australia, the ITF
>Secretariat in London (all of whom are on holiday at present) will
>observe the terms of the court order, he said, pointing out, however,
>that it would have little practical effect since ships identified by the
>ITF as having been handled by non-union labour in Patrick terminals
>were physically incapable of reaching foreign ports within the terms of
>the present injunction.
>
>"Cockroft also warned Patricks, the shipping community and the
>Australian government against assumng that legal pressure would weaken
>the resolve of ITF unions to support the MUA, pointing out that it was
>likely to provoke even stronger action around the world. "The decision
>to campaign, against non-union ports was taken by all ITF affiliated
>docker and seafarer unions each of which is fully autonomous, and they
>alone are responsible for whether and how that decision is implemented
>in practice." he added.
>
>For further information during the period of ITF office closure (until
>Tuesday 14 April) please contact the following mobile numbers - David
>Cockroft +44 370 310325. or press officer Sarah Finke +44 966 155575.
>
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