The International Transport Workers’ Federation’s Solidarity

Transport workers played a leading role in resisting the rise of European fascism and in supporting the anti-fascist cause in the Spanish Civil War. 

Much of this effort was coordinated and supported by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF). Then based in Amsterdam, the ITF had been active in underground anti-Nazi activities in Germany since Hitler’s rise to power in 1933. It published the fortnightly Hakenkreuz über Deutschland (Swastika over Germany), which was renamed as Faschismus (Fascism) and its focus spread to include Italy, Austria, Spain and Portugal. It continued publication until the end of the Second World War in 1945.

Transport unions and the ITF used industrial action and political pressure to oppose Franco’s rebellion against Spain’s elected government. Many hundreds of transport workers also joined the International Brigades to fight on the side of the Spanish Republic. In addition, trade unions were in the forefront of humanitarian campaigns to send food and medical supplies to Spain and to help refugees from the war.

Many ships bound for Franco-held ports were boycotted by trade union action. The ITF raised funds to send food ships to Republican Spain, and the federation’s leaders paid several visits to Spain to coordinate assistance. From the start of the war the ITF called on unions to inspect all shipments to Spain in order to prevent armaments reaching the rebels.

Transport unions in Scandinavia and the Benelux countries urged a complete trade boycott of Franco’s Spain. However, this met resistance from British unions, which did not want to defy their government’s policy of non-intervention. But several individual transport unions did take action, for example dockers in Antwerp. 

The image shown here is the cover of Die Schiffahrt (Shipping), an underground newsletter published by the ITF in Antwerp between 1936 and 1938 which circulated in Rotterdam and ports in Denmark, Norway, and the United States. One article, “On the situation in Spain”, called on German seafarers to “Report all weapons shipments that are leaving German ports bound for the Spanish fascists! Stop these transports by any means!” The ITF’s secret information network in Germany, which was especially among dockers in Hamburg, was able to collect information on arms deliveries being made to Hitler’s Condor Legion in Spain. Seafarers in Francoist ports also relayed military information back to the ITF, and then on to the Spanish Republican authorities.

Overall, the unions’ efforts were a remarkable display of international solidarity. To preserve their memory, in 2016 the ITF published an illustrated booklet, ¡No pasarán! The ITF and the fight against fascism which is available here: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.itfglobal.org/sites/default/files/resources-files/no_pasaran_en.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjXzPHZ1_GSAxV1D1kFHViaM-oQFnoECBgQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0zbK-MOCg8twBpWS62zk5R

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