ACTT Branci Debate on the OPCaNDE SEA-LAND ASO BLACK SWAN AVONMOUTH's 1,300 dockers gross £72 a week, f12 below the national docks* average, despite working longer hours. For severa months they have been attempting to negotiate an agreement on work na conanons in mne nroci gious new £47 million West Dock af ne demanes or ine avonmow: COCKERS are modest. Their five pours inciuae ine provision o) donkey-jackets every three years, anu or oooa every to montrzs But the management refuses to meet the demands and so dokers have boycotted work on the first ship into the West Dock. "These English are mad", said the captain of the ship, while Labour chairman of the Docks committee, Wally Jenkins, parrots these sentiments by saying 'Common sense will prevail But despite a press campaign against the dockers, and despite the backing of the men's stewards the dokers refused to accept a compromise solution to the dispute last Friday Only six voted in favour of the stewards" recommendation, and the stewards have now resigned.
The Avonmouth dispute coinciaes witn ine decision to call a national one-day dock strike on 21 March in support of a campaign t0
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