TO THE LIVERPOOL DOCKERS:

Some victories are not worth having; some defeats are worth more than victories.

Your struggle represented something which could not be won by a handful of workers, but which tens of thousands of workers can and still must.

The Liverpool dockers and WoW will be recorded in labour movement and social history. Against the brutal market-oriented morality of Thatcher and Son, you insisted on that of working people, their workplace solidarity, and that of working people around this world.

Working class heroes and heroines are something to be!

Peter Waterman
NETHERLANDS

I have just checked the LabourNet and read the letter of Jimmy Nolan, stating the end of the Liverpool dockers fight.

I praise the courage of all the dockers, shopstewards, and women of waterfront.

The impact of your long-standing fight has given Japanese workers to stand up and fight. Especially, visiting Liverpool at one of the hardest times for dockers and shop stewards, and WOW, we were able to join and share your fighting spirit.

I will immediately report this to all members of the delegation, including Mr.Nakazato.

Your in solidarity,

Ken Noda
JAPAN

Hi Greg,
what can I say......I am so proud of the dockers, their partners, and you and Chris for the efforts that have been put forward. You have all been an inspiration to workers through out the world, this struggle has united workers on a level unknown before, and not one single person in this struggle has lost the battle, when everyone has had their time to heal, and shout and get it out of their system, please be assured Canada , and Canadian workers, are proud to call you all comrade. To Jimmy Nolan my stalwart, Jimmy Davis my rock, to all of you the orators, the movers and the solid socialists, you have done my grandad proud.
love and best wishes, and forever in struggle
Col

Colette Hooson
CANADA

Dear Greg:

Jack Heyman called me last night with the news. This was something that I was expecting since I met Marie and got a sense of the mood in Liverpool.

As for feeling that this was a waste of time, nothing could be further from the truth! Theirs was an incredible struggle, the most inspiring I've ever been involved in! We've lost this battle but the class war continues. And many great things have been achieved. As I see it, the task now is to organize on the waterfront like never before, prevent the bosses from using this to press their advantage, and prevent Liverpool from ever happening again. A huge task, which I expect will have to begin with Australia when their contract expires at the end of March. This defeat has to be made into the loudest wake up call it can, and to argue that the Liverpool comrades showed the way to victory, even if they weren't able to realize it themselves...

Jack has mentioned that some dockers are going to tour the US west coast in February. They would certainly be welcome here as well. I suspect that they will want to meet with the Vancouver ILWU and address their members who have been supporting them physically and financially, but there are outside supporters who would like to be a part of that as well.
Please keep me informed of these plans and I'll work with the ILWU to see that things get organized as broadly as possible here.

Additionally, the ILWU in Chemanius on Vancouver Island, a small local, also supported the struggle, participating in the Sept. 8 Day of Action and a couple of officials travelled a fair ways to see Marie speak in Duncan. I don't know if they can be accomodated in this tour, but a number of us would work to facilitate that if it was.

the struggle continues...
tj

T J Baker
CANADA

Hi,
Obviously I'm disappointed but not suprised. Far more than anything the fate of this struggle like the fate of the A. E. Staley workers' struggle in Decatur, Illinois and Caterpillar steel my determination to fight on and intensify my relentless hostility towards the union bureaucracy. Several months ago I told one of the people who has been pivotal to the solidarity work in support of the dockers that I intend to be the union bureaucracy's worst nightmare. My goal remains unchanged.

The World Is Our Picket LIne!
Bruce

Bruce Allan
CANADA

Chris,

I hope the people of the docks know how their brave struggle has heartened and strengthened so many of us that they will never know face to face.

By phone to the USA I have kept my 83-year-old mother in Texas (a vehemently anti-union state) up to date on the fight and the respect and support the dockers mobilised across the world. She says as long as she knows people somewhere are standing it up, whether they win or lose, it gives her hope and makes her more determined than ever to fight on with whatever means she has till the end.

From both of us, thank you to all of you.

In solidarity,

PK Murphy
Toronto, Ontario,
CANADA

Liverpool dockers vote to accept deal

by Daphne Liddle

New Worker article
BRITAIN

Would you be good enough to pass on best wishes, solidarity and admiration to the Liverpool dockers, the Women of the Waterfront and their families and supporters.

It is a terrible shame that their determination, internationalism and basic trade union decency wasn't matched by many of the official organisations of the labour movement. I'm sure that they have inspired a new generation of trade unionists and socialists. It's all of our jobs to build a leadership worthy of these men and women.

Finally, I would like to thank you and all your comrades at Labournet for showing us all some of the possibilities, redressing the balance of the media and blazing a trail for labour movement activists throughout the world.

In solidarity

Steve Davies
Cyber Picket Line
http://www.cf.ac.uk/ccin/union/

BRITAIN

Comrades;

We have learnt that the Liverpool Dockers and their families have decided to finish their 2 years and 4 months lasting struggle of returning back to their jobs. Liverpool Dockers and their families have fought against not only the MDHC bosses during this period, but also against the government, shipowners worldwide and international capital. Beginning from the time that the British capital understood that dockers will not surrender, this struggle has become not a fight just for jobs in a place called Liverpool, but a battlefront in the international war of labour and capital.

The dockers had known (maybe felt) from the beginning that they could not fight and win against such a powerful front by themselves, so they chose to go international. Their achievement in this front is, as you all know, unbelievable. Their movement is a spark for the international proletariat to come together against the international capital. This will be understood better by all of us workers in the world soon. Frankly, there is a lot of lessons for all of us be learnt from this brave fight; the workers and socialist parties alike. Emek newspaper and Emek Party acknowledge their share.

Oppressed workers of this country, Emek Party and the family and friends of our comrade Metin Gvktepe will never forget the solidarity that the dockers have shown to this country's problems in the midst of their fight.

We believe that the Dockers' fight will also accelerate the fight for the liquidation of union bureaucracy and forming a proper workers' party in Britain. All such parties are formed within such struggles. This, like all of the actions of the dockers, will also affect the world.

This is a "defeat" that is worth a thousand victories. The Tony Blairs and the Bill Morrises of the world will also understand this.

Yours in solidarity

Daily Emek Newspaper
TURKEY

After 27 months of struggle, Labour Left Briefing salutes the 500 Liverpool dockers, Women of the Waterfront and your children and families. Unlike our 'leaders', you gave us leadership. Unlike the so-called 'Labour Government', you acted for our class. With solidarity from dockers in five continents, you built your own magnificent International. Disregarding your own hardship, you helped sustain the Hillingdon hospital strikers. You defended human rights in Turkey, stood on the Magnet picket-line, campaigned with the homeless, helped reclaim the streets. You began to unite our struggles. We need you to keep doing that. You, the Liverpoool dockers, are the one leadership which has stood the test. You would not cross a picket- line. Keep that banner flying.

Labour Left Briefing
BRITAIN

Letter to "The Guardian"

You referred to the "climb-down" of the Liverpool dockers (£10 million settlement ends Mersey dock dispute, January 27). The dockers did not climb down, they were let down, and forced to end their remarkable two-year struggle not because of any failure on their part. On the contrary, the action they inspired across the world, against the return of exploited, casual labour, galvanised thousands on every continent and was without precedent this century.

Their struggle in this country was lost because the Transport and General Workers' Union virtually guaranteed its failure. Had this rich and powerful organisation launched a national campaign challenging the sinister circumstances and the sheer injustice of the dockers' dismissal along with an assault on anti-trade union laws that most of the democratic world regard as a disgrace in a free country, the battle could have been won there and then.

Instead, it was the craven silence of the union leadership that finally ended the imaginative and courageous efforts of men once described by Lloyds List as "the most productive work force in Europe" and who represent Britain at its best.

John Pilger. London SW4.
BRITAIN

The Fire Brigades Union in Lancashire recognises the courage, tenacity and
resolutions of all the comrades who have been involved in this fight against
not only an intransigent employing authority, but also an uncaring
Government which has consistently conspired to thwart any semblence of
justice that you may have been entitled to expect.

From the hearts of the members of the Brigade Committee of the FBU and
indeed all FBU members in Lancashire, well done and we salute you Sisters
and Brothers.

Tony Harris
Brigade Secretary, FBU Lancashire
BRITAIN

Comrades All,

Having followed the progress of your dispute with M.D & H Co, with
admiration for the solidarity you people have shown to your fellow
workers and comrades. It was with sadness, that I heard that the time
had come to accept the miserable payoff offered by the M.D & H Co. I can
only hope that you continue with the struggle for justice for all
involved, for this is probably one of the most unjust treatments of the
workforce in many years.

I realise that your hands have been tied and you have been sacrificed at
the altar for New Labour and the Union's dream of a new Britain based on
a heritage theme park, with Victorian Labour relations.

Good luck, my admiration for all involved is too much to express. I
shall always remember your struggle and view it as a victory for the
solidarity of the oppressed workers, The struggle must never be allowed
to fail, although you must walk away to regroup and to salvage your
lives.

hasta la victoria sempre

Evan Williams
BRITAIN

Comrades,

On behalf of The Workers' Party of Ireland I salute your courage and the
dignified manner in which you conducted your campaign over the last two
and a half years.

Please be assured that your struggle was not in vain and has given
inspiration to thousands of workers around the world.

We still say Workers Unite! it is the only way.

Fraternally Yours,

Jimmy Homan (Councillor and Docker)
IRELAND

Dearest friends and comrades of the Liverpool Dockers and Women of the
Waterfront!

Our hearts were always with your struggle although we from
LabourNet-Austria could never organize big solidarity actions with you.
But your struggle was one of the big real models of our ideas and policy
for an absolute necessary international workers struggle against the
worldwide capitalist offensives today.

We published regulary informations about your struggle in our Webpage.
LabourNet-Austria is a sister-net of LaborNet-igc/USA and we will be
glad if you could inform us about your steps in the future.

In deep solidarity,
Karl Fischbacher, LabourNet-Austria-committee, Vienna
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/LabourNetAustria

My union branch committee of NATFHE at the University of Greenwich
has asked me to send you a message to congratulate you on your long
struggle for trade unionism, for internationalism, and for social
justice.

We do not regard your decision to end the dispute as the end; you
have lit a beacon which will continue to show the way to trade
unionists, their families and others in struggle. Future struggles
will make their stand on your shoulders and using your experiences.

We think with great sadness of your brothers who have died during
your long struggle and of their families, and all those of you who
have become their families.

We thank you for the magnificent mobilisation last year that was the
Social Justice march. It could not have taken place in that form
without you. It showed on the eve of the general election what
demands and hopes we all had, quite different from the agenda that
New Labour had.

We hope that your banners will be seen in London again in a renewed
social justice march against a Labour government that has shown in
its first year that it would not use its position to give you your
jobs, any more than it would assure the disabled their benefits,
We have seen the effect of this government on education. Schools,
universities and colleges are deprived of the resources to ensure
that education can be a right, not a privilege, and our students are
denied any grants

In comradeship.

Bridget Leach
Branch Secretary
NATFHE
the University and College Lecturers' Union
Woolwich Branch, University of Greenwich
BRITAIN

Dear comrades,

it is with deep sadness we have known about the end of your struggle. A
conclusion that cannot satisfy workers, families that so long have fought
for their rights, against the capitalistic "way of life".

Anyway we are agreed with you when you said, with the words of James Larkin,
that no defeat can overcome the cause of our struggle.

So the class struggle continues!

On the side of the dockers, the asturian miners, the workers, the
unemployed in the world.

Build the class organization! Change the production system!

Class solidarity

Comunist regards

from

Centro di Documentazione e Lotta
"R o s s o 16"
Rome
ITALY

We have just received news of the end of your tremendous struggle.

You have been an inspiration to workers across the world and will always
be remembered for this heroic resistance.

That neither the trade union leaders nor the labour government saw fit
to deliver the neccessary solidarity is a tragedy and a disgrace.

in solidarity,

The International Socialists
NORWAY

I just heard that you have felt obliged to accept the latest offer from
MD&HC and that the open dispute now is over.

What can I say but, I am sorry. Your struggle was an important and
valiant one.

But the struggle goes on. It cannot end until oppression and class
society is gone.

All my best to all of you!

An injury to one is an injury to all!

Nils Kullinger
SWEDEN

The Liverpool dockers' dispute is over. These three web pages, which went up this week at Labournet -- the website which has been spearheading the international campaign on behalf of the dockers -- mark the end of one of the most important campaigns ever conducted on the net on behalf of workers in struggle. Perhaps the most important campaign.

Words fail me. But Peter Waterman's words on this occasion touched me:

"Some victories are not worth having; some defeats are worth more than victories."

On this occasion, I want to thank Chris Bailey, webmaster and founder of Labournet in the UK, whose tireless efforts on behalf of the Liverpool dockers have demonstrated to all of us the power of the new communications technologies -- and of the old vision of working class internationalism and solidarity.

Eric Lee

ISRAEL

I've been reading your exchanges on the dockers with such pain in my
heart. We locked-out workers are facing the exact kind of decision, made
over our heads by leaders who haven't put themselves out once in 31
months to help us truly end our struggle. My heart goes out to those
folks in Liverpool who must feel ashes inside. When all the arguing is
done, when everyone else decides who won and who lost, those people and
the fight they fought will stand in history as brave and true. If you
know any of them, please tell them the locked-out workers of Detroit
Newspapers are thinking and praying for them.
Barbara Ingalls
Detroit Typographical Union #18
After 31 1/2 months of struggle
1400 people remain locked-out of their jobs
Where is the outrage?

USA

International Transport Workers' Federation
ITF Worldwide Inspectors' Seminar
London, 9-13 February 1998

RESOLUTION ON LIVERPOOL DOCKERS

1. This meeting of 100 ITF Inspectors from over 40 countries in 5 continents held 9-13 February 1998 in London bow our heads in honour of your courageous 28 month struggle.

2. Your commitment and the commitment of your families to endure the enormous hardships over the last 28 months has inspired working people the world over.

3. We know that wherever working people are in struggle against rogue employers and governments, be it the Maritime Union of Australia fighting for its very existence, non-union operators on the West Coast of America or the deportation of union activists in the Port of Colombo - the fighting spirit of the Liverpool Dockers will be there.

4. We further re-dedicate ourselves to keep the rebel flag of workers' rights flying in your honour.

We will never forget you.