International solidarity against Mugabe arms shipment

MUA news

ITF affiliates MUA and RTBU in solidarity with South African dockers and truck workers ban on arms to Zimbabwe as reports of voilence and repression under the Mugabe regime increase

Bans by South African dock workers in Durban have forced the Chinese ship An Yue Jiang to sail from the South African port of Durban without unloading.

The bans which have the support of the International Transport Workers' Federation have now spread to other African nations. The ship is reported to have bypassed Maputu were local unions were also mobilising against the weapons transfer.

Global union federation the ITF reports that the ship has switched off its transponder (which broadcasts its exact location), but is believed to be heading for Luanda, Angola next, and may be running low on fuel.

As well as mobilising workers in the region the ITF is calling on Cosco, the Chinese Government, the officially approved All China Federation of Trade Unions, and the Chinese Seamen's and Construction Workers' union to think of the safety of the ship's crew and return to its home port.

SATAWU,last week declared its port members would not unload the weapons from the ship. It also declared that none of its members in the trucking sector would move the cargo to Harare by road.

SATAWU, a member of the COSATU trade union national centre says a peaceful solution must be sought to the political instability in Zimbabwe.

Both ITF Australia affiliates Paddy Crumlin, MUA and Greg Harvey, RTBU have written letters of solidarity to SATAWU in support of the SA workers' stand.