IDC, 26/07/2017. Barcelona. The International Dockworkers Council (IDC) has made a very positive assessment of the first half of 2017 on a number of levels. This includes the number of new affiliates which have joined the IDC; the actions it has carried out; the international representation it has provided before governments and public and private organizations; the solidarity it has provided to dockworkers; as well as moves forward in training.
According to information provided by the IDC’s union affiliates, by the end of June the IDC consists of over 100,000 affiliated workers, with over 90 different trade unions all being a part of this one big family. Since the beginning of January, the IDC has added 27,509 new members. In the last six months, dockers from Brazil, Croatia, Ghana, Mexico and Hong Kong have all joined the IDC.
The latest data available to the IDC shows that since 2014 it has grown from 69,192 members to over 100,000 members - a growth rate of 47.3%.
In this regard, both the leaders of each of the IDC’s Zones along with IDC General Coordinator Jordi Aragunde have met regularly with workers’ representatives with a view to increasing IDC membership, in particular with those from Asian and African ports.
Jordi Aragunde's assessment of the IDC Zones
According to IDC leader Jordi Aragunde, the situations in Spain and Sweden have taken up much of the IDC’s work in the first half of 2017. As Aragunde explained: “In the first case, there are the beginnings of a resolution, but we still remain anxious” while in the Swedish case “we have put in place a truce until September in an effort to find a settlement. In the meantime, we continue to put forward solutions in an attempt to give the port [of Gothenburg] a better future”.
Along with all this, there was also the European Zone Assembly meeting that took place in Koper, Slovenia under the coordination of Anthony Têtard. At that meeting, the IDC decided to “a change of course in relation to the European Commission and to take a lead in the process of social dialogue in Brussels”. To this end “we have held an informal meeting with other participants of the Sectoral Social Dialogue Round Table, and presented to them the need for this change in direction in order to achieve social peace, stability in our ports and improvements in job security.”
Aragunde then moved on to analyze the work of other IDC Zones. Looking at the East Coast and West Coast Zones in North America, he pointed to “the great work of the two unions, the ILWU and ILA, and the great participation and solidarity that they have shown in the conflicts affecting the other Zones of the IDC”.
With regard to the African Zone, the solidarity mission to Togo and Benin carried out with IDC African Zone Coordinator Pierre Aklegbou from the Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) is a real stand out. “In Benin we obtained the freedom of our imprisoned comrade not long after our visit” and “are continuing our discussions for the rehiring of eighteen dismissed comrades in Cotonou”.
Aragunde also highlighted the great work carried out in the Latin American Zone. Through IDC Coordinator Ricardo Suárez of Uruguay, “we have reactivated several training and workplace accident prevention projects” and “have consolidated the affiliations within the Zone and joined all the dockworkers’ unions of Brazil to the IDC”.
Finally, there is the “relatively new Oceania and Asia Zone of the IDC, where Coordinator Bob Carnegie from Australia is laying the groundwork for future growth”. This is without a doubt “one of the great challenges we face in the short to medium term”.
The challenge of workers' training and representation
Training, facilitation of work instruments and tools, and the maintenance of workers’ rights continues to be one the IDC’s major challenges. Aragunde says that “at the end of this year, and in collaboration with Latin American government authorities, the International Labor Organization (ILO), and Spain’s Foundation of Port Studies (FUNESPOR), we will hold union and vocational training courses that will give workers the tools for understanding their history, their rights, accident prevention, health and occupational safety”.
Regarding its representation on government and international bodies, the IDC “has made great progress in its relations and commitments to both the European Commission and governments in the countries where we are represented”. The IDC leader said that now “it is generally the norm that, wherever we have a meeting, it is the authorities who are quick to call a meeting with representatives of our international federation; whether that be in Togo, Malta, Benin, or other countries”.
This fact is of great importance to the work of the IDC and the impact of the actions that it carries out globally. The federation’s presence at national and international negotiations is becoming increasingly notable, which in itself gives a strong impetus to the tasks being carried out by the IDC.
In this context, the IDC plans to meet with International Labor Organization (ILO) officials during the second half of the year.
Workers united against neoliberalism
On a final note, IDC General Coordinator Jordi Aragunde wants to “thank each and every one of the people who, regardless of personal, social and economic affinities, believe in the IDC project”. For the IDC leader, “states, corporations, shipping companies ... all create their alliances with a clear objective: to weaken the ability to act, the strength, and the unity of all dockworkers. Only together and in a united fashion will we be able to stop the attack of this most savage neoliberal capitalism”. Paraphrasing the investor and philanthropist Warren Buffett, contrary to capitalism’s current way of functioning: “Class warfare exists, but it is only my side that is winning”.
“Now is the time - our time - for the dockers of the world to demonstrate that we are able to hold our head high and defend our rights and working conditions that were struggled and fought for over centuries of conflict in ports across all continents”.