Solidarity with New Zealand dockers

"WORKERS OF the world, unite!" This slogan isn't just an abstract call, but a practical guide to how our side can win. We saw an inspiring example of this in New Zealand on Saturday, March 10, when striking longshore workers were joined by their brothers and sisters in the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) to protest an attempt to force through casualization on Auckland's wharves.

Five thousand people joined a protest in support of the Maritime Union of New Zealand. Longshore workers were joined by cleaners, public servants, teachers, students, firefighters and care workers, all determined to show their solidarity.

The port has sacked all 300 striking Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ) workers for daring to stand up for their rights, and the issue is electrifying the workers' movement in this country. We have not seen a struggle like this in many years, and MUNZ's stand against casualization has prompted discussions all around the country about how we can start to organize and rebuild our movement.

An ILWU leader spoke to the rally, and pledged the support of U.S. waterside workers to their New Zealand brothers and sisters:

American dockworkers support MUNZ to the hilt. This is a fight against the flood of casualization and temporary work, and this is where working people must take a stand and fight the insane levels of inequality.

All the leaders of the different branches of the ILWU have come from the States to support the wharfies. The media has been asking us what are you going to do? Well, what do you think we are going to do!

In a wonderful display of internationalism and union strength, Maritime Union of Australia members in Sydney struck on March 9 to prevent scab-loaded ships from Auckland offloading in their port. Australian watersiders have raised tens of thousands of dollars to support striking workers here.

The ILWU has such a proud history of internationalism and militant commitment to struggle. Its members' visit to New Zealand this weekend punctures the lies we so often hear about the U.S., where union struggles and history are so rarely reported abroad. Our solidarity is global!
Dougal McNeill, International Socialist Organization, New Zealand