510 Marine Transport Workers
All workers engaged in marine transport. All workers on docks.
The number of maritime workers in the UK and Ireland have dropped dramatically in the last couple of decades, to around 10,000 on the sea and about 24,000 on the docks. The government's inability, and bosses' unwillingness, to assist maritime workers in getting a better deal has been demonstrated time and time again. The smashing of the once-strong unions on the docks, coupled with a significant reduction of ferry routes and shipping transport links has left the industry in a sorry state.
The IWW has a long history of militant grassroots unionism in the marine transport industry, and once had a Marine Transport Workers' Union that had branches in dozens of ports in the USA, Mexico, UK, Ireland, Sweden, Chile and elsewhere. Furthermore, the IWW controlled a number of US dockyards for several decades before the state crushed the union for being too good at its job!
The time is ripe for a resurgence of this militance in the marine industry. Too often do maritime workers handle scab goods and get divided by skill, nationality and the various different trade unions in the sector. Workers should not expect to beg for crumbs while bosses and governments play with our livelihoods. We believe in one union for all marine workers, united and linked closely with other workers on the water, such as shipbuilders and fishery workers. Join the IWW and get organising in your industry!
Contact your local branch to get involved.
Useful Links
IWW advice and workplace organising pages
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Dock workers health and safety information
