Dockers to continue Mersey campaign

Sacked Liverpool dockers yesterday vowed to continue their campaign of unofficial industrial action against Mersey Docks and Harbour Company after it announced that it had won back a big contract lost during the 10-month long dispute. The news boosted Mersey Dock's shares by more than 10 per cent, with the price rising 36p to 383p.

Atlantic Container Line, one of Mersey's largest customers, pulled out of the Docks a month ago, ending its container services to and from America's east coast.

ACL blamed the move on sympathy action by US dockers in the International Longshoremen's Association of America, who blockaded a company ship for 24 hours before Christmas.

Mersey Docks declined to put a figure on the value of the contract, but analysts have estimated it at around pounds 4m a year.

The dispute began when Mersey Docks dismissed 329 dockers last September for refusing to cross picket lines. Earlier this year the Transport and General Workers Union negotiated a deal giving former employees redundancy payments of up to pounds 25,000. But the union rejected the deal. When Atlantic Container Line pulled out on 21 June, Mersey Docks withdrew the redundancy offer.

Yesterday Mersey Docks said that its contract with ACL would resume today, a situation regarded by Atlantic's president, Bernhard Ryding, as "sensitive". Ex-employees coordinating the dispute accused Mersey Docks of using the contract to justify cutting 80 jobs.

Bobby Morton, a former shop steward, said, "ACL only left the port temporarily. It's come as no surprise to us they've made this annoucement, and we won't change our campaign to get our jobs back." He said ACL was planning on having two container cargos leave the docks early this morning. "Immediately we find the destination of these ships we will take appropriate action. We've had many messages of support from international unions."

Mersey Docks insisted business had been returning to normal and that the dispute was winding down. A spokesman said productivity had risen by 30 to 40 per cent in the new labour force hired after the sackings.