As The Dispatcher goes to press, Hong Kong dockworkers are approaching the first month of a strike for better pay and working conditions. The Union of Hong Kong Dockers is squaring-off against one of China’s wealthiest and most powerful tycoons: Li Ka-shing, owner of HutchisonWhampoa, Hutchison Port Holdings, and Hong Kong International Terminals.
The Hong Kong dockers are mobilizing within their own ranks and reaching out to win public support. On April 6, 4,000 marched and rallied outside Hutchison’s headquarters in Hong Kong with family members, union supporters, students, community members and representatives from the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF). Two days later, ITF President and Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) National Secretary Paddy Crumlin was walking on the picket line and meeting with union leaders to coordinate international solidarity. Within a week a delegation of MUA dockers arrived from Australia to lend their support. On April 17, the Hong Kong strike leaders presented a report to the ITF Dockers Section meeting in London, attended by
ILWU Vice President (Mainland) Ray Familathe who also serves as 2nd Vice Chair of the ITF Dockers Section. Familathe immediately flew back to attend the conclusion of the ILWU Longshore Caucus meeting in San Francisco where he updated delegates on the Hong Kong struggle and other international developments.
ILWU International President Bob McEllrath presented a motion to Caucus delegates for a $20,000 contribution to help the Hong Kong dockers which was unanimously adopted.
On April 22, workers at Hong Kong International Terminals agreed to end a “work-to-rule” campaign after their employer finally agreed to pay an overtime rate of 140%. The strikers, most of whom are subcontracted employees, are still refusing to work until Hutchison agrees to better pay and basic improvements that include bathroom breaks.
On April 25, efforts by Hutchison to secure an injunction banning demonstrators outside their headquarters was rejected by the court. The Dispatcher will follow this story and provide an update in the next issue.