[News] Israeli ship thwarted from offloading by South African dock workers
Anti-Imperialist News
news at freedomarchives.org
Sun Feb 8 11:04:21 EST 2009
http://www.cosatu.org.za/press/2009/feb/press13.htm
Israeli Shipping Line Zim Tries To Sneak Into South
African Port For Offloading Cargo-Thwarted by SATAWU
Dockers
Media Release: Victory for worker solidarity
Issued by Congress of South African Trade Unions
(Cosatu) and Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSC)
6 February 2009
The Congress of South African Trade Union is
pleased to announce that its members, dock
workers belonging to the South African Transport
and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) achieved a
victory last night when they stood firm by their
decision not to offload the Johanna Russ, a ship
that was carrying Israeli goods to South Africa.
This, despite threats to COSATU members from
sections of the pro-Israeli lobby, and despite severe provocation.
The Johanna Russ, flying an Antigua flag, is
owned by M. Dizengoff and Co., an established
"pioneer of the modern era of shipping business
in the Middle East" and shipping agent for the
ironically named Zim Israel Navigation Company.
(Ironic because, last year, the same SATAWU
members refused to offload the Chinese ship An
Yue Jiang, which was carrying arms and ammunition
destined for Robert Mugabes army.)
The worker action last night took place despite
attempted subterfuge on the part of the owners of
the shipping company. There was an attempt to
confound the plan by arriving earlier than
originally scheduled, which was 8 February. Dates
for the berthing of the Johanna Russ were changed
constantly. Yesterday morning, SATAWU members
were told that the ship would dock this morning
(Friday) at 02:00. Thanks to the vigilance of the
dock workers, SATAWU discovered that the ship had
docked on Wednesday morning and was due to be
offloaded last night at 21:00. But the vigilant
workers were on guard and immediately they
realised that it had docked, they then refused to
handle it, despite pressures from management.
SATAWU members maintained their refusal to
offload the ship and also attempted to ensure
that scab labour would not be used.
A few hours after berthing, at 23:00, the Johanna
Russ sneaked out of the Durban Harbour.
From the beginning of this action, COSATU
workers remained resolute about their position
and were convinced that, following the recent
Israeli massacres in Gaza, they will take
determined action against Israel. Israels terror
included flagrant breaches of international law,
the bombing of densely populated neighbourhoods,
the illegal deployment of chemical white
phosphorous, and attacks on schools, ambulances,
relief agencies, hospitals, universities and places of worship.
COSATU has now decided to intensify its efforts
in support of the struggles of the Palestinian
people. The worker victory in Durban yesterday
spurs COSATU members on to more determined action
in order to isolate the Apartheid state of
Israel. Other Cosatu unions are currently in
discussion about how they might also give effect
to Cosatu resolutions on boycotts, divestment and
sanctions against Israel, including a refusal to
handle Israeli goods, and continuing pressure on
our government to sever diplomatic and trade relations with Israel.
The momentum against apartheid Israel has become
an irresistible force. We are proud to stand with
the millions around the world who say Enough is
enough. They are doing what we asked them to do
when we faced the apartheid regime in our own country.
COSATU and the PSC call on all people of
conscience to join us in boycotting Israeli
products and institutions until a just,
democratic state, with equal rights for all comes
into existence in Palestine. This is just the
beginning of a solidarity campaign which will
continue until the demands of the Palestinian people have been won.
For more information, call:
Randall Howard (Satawu General Secretary) - 082 564 6298
Patrick Craven (Cosatu) 082 821 7456
Melissa Hoole (PSC) 073 906 0017
Bongani Masuku (Cosatu) 079 499 6419
Salim Vally (PSC) 082 802 5936
Naeem Jeenah (PSC) 084 574 2674
Freedom Archives
522 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
415 863-9977
www.Freedomarchives.org
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