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cropper's column

9th June 1972, Page 48
9th June 1972
Page 48
Page 48, 9th June 1972 — cropper's column
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Dockers against hauliers

• Labour unrest at the docks is at the boil and this•time the main target of the dockers' attack is road transport and centres on the issue of the stuffing and stripping of containers. Strangely enough, road transport operators are gaining support from their drivers, who are realizing that their own jobs may well be at stake.

The Liverpool dockers' struggle with Heatons raises questions of principle. Other ports, particularly London, are becoming involved. The dockers have established picket lines, outside the docks, at a number of establishments where stuffing and stripping takes place, as the dockers regard this as -dock work". If any vehicle is found going over one of these lines, the dockers intend to black that firm's vehicles whenever they appear at the docks.

In this struggle of transport versus docks, one must understand the legally privileged position of the dockers. Parliament created the Dock Labour Board, and registered dockers only are entitled to perform dock work. Dock work is defined as the loading and unloading of vessels within the vicinity of a dock. The purpose of the measure was to improve labour conditions and do away with casual labour. Because dock work was thus restricted by law to registered dockers, their unions were able to negotiate from a position of extreme strength.

For a 31, lhour week, the docker receives a guaranteed wage of £41: if stood off, he becomes entitled to fallback pay of £36. As a consequence of these heavy costs, employment has diminished, accelerated by the introduction of labour-saving developments, such as containers.

Once freight is taken aboard the lorry, it ceases to be dock work; from then on, any work required can be performed by unregistered labour, viz drivers, Thus containers, when placed on a road vehicle, move out of the legal area which the dockers control.

The dockers' answer to the decline in employment is to attempt to extend their field of activity. But who would wish to buy high-cost labour under monopolistic conditions?

Such developments are ominous, .particularly for road transport. The situation calls for looking at in reverse. Is it not time for a re-think on the justification of the dockers' Monopoly situation? They have become over-privileged. The public should now ask whether the correct solution must lie in the complete abolition of the dock labour scheme. This would mean the winding up of the Board and the removal of the monopoly of dock work for registered dockers.

Ralph Cropper

Tags

Organisations: Dock Labour Board
People: Ralph Cropper
Locations: Liverpool, London

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