(2) We propose that Britain's port industry be vested in and operated by a sing National Authority or National Port Authority (hereinafter referred to as the N.P.A.). (3) The N.P.A. will give 50% representation to the public interest, and 50% to port workers, through a system of elected lay representatives, The elections will be carried out by the trade unions. (4) There will be three levels of committee, all of which shall give equal representation to port workers and to the public interests
a) Port Committees;
b) Area Committees (i.e., the United Kingdom divided into 7 areas)$
c) National Committee. (4a) Port Committees will consist equally of port workers elected from and by workers! councils and representatives of other interested bodies, (4b) Area Committees will be elected from and by Port Committees on the same basis of representation. (4c) The National Committee will be elected from and by Area Committees on the same basis of representation, (5) The N.P.A. will be responsible for capital investment and the operation of the port system throughout the United Kingdom. (6) All shipping entering British territorial waters shall come under the control of the Authority. If it appears likely that a ship will be seriously delayed at its port of preference, then the Authority shall have power to direct it to the nearest suitable port. This pre-supposes an integrated transport system with a level of charges fixed in terms of ultimate destination, i.e., the total charge for shipping goods from Rotterdam to London will be fixed whether the Authority decides that the ship will dock at London or Dover.
It will also be the responsibility of the N.A.P. to ensure that all developments be viewed on a wide national scale, and not in piecemeal fashion as has been the practice in the past.
* This paper was submitted by the Dockworkers Voice to the London school
on industrial democracy.
docks plan continued/
Whilst the Authority will be responsible for capital investment and
the operation of the National Port System, the National Dock Labour Board
(hereinafter referred to as the N.D.L,B) will become the employer of all
dock labour.
(8) The N.D.L.B. will have complete control of all workers including
supervisory grades, and will deal with all labour problems including
discipline.
(9) There will be three levels of boards: