ILA Protests Against Orsted Expand To World Stage as International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) and International Dockworkers Council (IDC) Join In Fight To Save ILA Jobs
NORTH BERGEN, NJ (November 14, 2023). As ILA Locals deliver protests against Orsted at company locations in Newark, New York, Boston. and Washington to fight for its core jurisdiction work against the company that develops wind farm products for the production of electricity, the longshore union’s campaign is being bolstered by protests organized by world-wide labor bodies, the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) and International Dockworkers Council (IDC).
Last week, 3F Dockers from all ports in Denmark rallied at Orsted’s offices in Copenhagen in support of the ILA. Within the past month, the National Union of Seafarers in India publicly condemned the actions of Orsted and urged them to negotiate in good faith with the ILA.
Since mid-October, Orsted has promised the ILA and the international labor community that they intended to bargain in good faith but have failed to live up to their pledges.
Orsted’s CEO Mads Nipper promised in a letter to the ITF on October 18 that the company was “committed to constructive dialogue with labor unions and theirs associated federations to achieve a sustainable offshore wind industry globally.
Orsted US postponed indefinitely meetings it had scheduled with the ILA, their employer Gateway, and other key stakeholders at the New London, Connecticut State Pier, the site of continual protests for the past several weeks.
“Orsted US needs to accept responsibility for the labor dispute, live up to its code of conduct and respect all trade unions, or these protests across America and around the world will continue and grow,” said the ILA’s Jim Paylor who is coordinating the union’s efforts to protect its waterfront jobs where Orsted is working.
The ITF and IDC, along with their affiliates will continue to mobilize unions around the world in support of the ILA.