Liverpool dockers' dispute (1995–1998)
The Liverpool dockers' dispute (1995–1998) was a prolonged industrial action in Liverpool, England, centered around the dismissal of approximately 500 dockworkers employed by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company (MDHC). The dispute stemmed from the workers' refusal to cross a picket line established by dockers employed by Torside, a stevedoring company contracted by MDHC, who had been sacked for refusing to work overtime.
The initial dismissals by Torside triggered a wave of unofficial strikes and walkouts among MDHC dockworkers in support of their colleagues. MDHC responded by sacking the striking workers, citing breaches of contract and unofficial industrial action. This led to the official start of the lengthy dispute.
The sacked dockers, supported by the Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU), mounted a sustained campaign for reinstatement. The campaign involved picketing, demonstrations, lobbying, and attempts to garner international support and solidarity from dockworkers in other ports across the globe. The dispute became a symbol of trade union resistance against casualisation and the erosion of workers' rights.
Over the course of the three years, the dispute garnered significant national and international attention, with support coming from various trade unions, political groups, and community organisations. However, despite widespread sympathy and solidarity actions, the dockers were ultimately unsuccessful in securing unconditional reinstatement to their original jobs.
In 1998, a settlement was reached involving a payment of compensation to the sacked dockers, a fund for retraining and re-employment opportunities, and an apology from MDHC. While the settlement provided some financial redress, it did not result in the reinstatement of all the dockers, marking a significant defeat for the workers and the TGWU. The Liverpool dockers' dispute remains a significant event in British industrial relations history, remembered for its length, the solidarity it generated, and its impact on the port of Liverpool.