Liverpool Dockers and Families Support Group
c/o Socialist Party
36 Victoria Square
Belfast BT1

to: Terry Teague Liverpool Dockers
from: Peter Hadden

9.9.97

Report on activity in Belfast in support of the International Day of action

7:30 am - 9:00 am The Support Group picketed the entrance to the section of the Docks where Coastal Containers, Norse Irish Ferries and various other companies are located.

About a dozen members of the Support Group were involved (including four of the Montupet workers who were sacked during their dispute). We had an eight foot banner plus placards and gave out 900 leaflets. Almost every car and lorry stopped to take a leaflet. Most people knew something about the dispute and there was almost total support. As a result of the picket we caused a tailback of traffic which stretched about half a mile to a roundabout leading to the M2, one of the main routes into Belfast, down the M2 slip road and about two miles up the motorway. Because traffic attempting to come off the motorway could not get into the inside lane the other five lanes eventually jammed up and traffic into Belfast was slowed nearly to a standstill.

The RUC eventually came but by the time they could get through the traffic to the picket it was almost 9:00 and we were getting ready to go. Even the RUC Inspector who threatened to take action against us for disrupting the traffic was quite sympathetic to the dispute, asking if Robbie Fowler was going to be turning up.

At lunchtime 12:00 - 2:00 pm we held a protest outside Belfast City Hall with around 20 people. Apart from our banner we had banners from the Belfast Trades Council and MSF. We got a good response from the public and gave out about 1000 leaflets. The only problem was that we had to move away from the more crowded area directly in front of the City Hall because of the flowers and tributes left there.

During the earlier picket we met the shop steward from Coastal who confirmed that they would not be working overtime for the day.

I enclose a press cutting from this morning's Irish News, one of the two main morning newspapers here (+ newsletter).

I hope the day was successful elsewhere - Keep up the struggle.

Peter Hadden