Solidarity for sacked dockers

Sacked Liverpool dockers say thousands of colleagues around the world stopped work yesterday to support their campaign to win back their jobs. It is almost two years since the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company locked out the 329 dockers after they refused to cross an unofficial picket line in support of 80 colleagues made redundant by an independent stevedoring company. They were sacked and have since been involved in the bitter campaign which includes continuous picketing the Port of Liverpool.

A spokesman for the Liverpool dockers said yesterday's International Day of Action was supported in Australia, North America, Canada, Denmark, Japan and Sweden. However, a spokeswoman for the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company said the action had not affected trade. The sacked workers will mark the second anniversary of the dispute with a rally in Liverpool on 27 September.