EUROPEAN DOCKERS ANNOUNCE EUROPE-WIDE STRIKE
The International Transport Workers’ Federation has called for port strikes and other actions today in 14 European countries to protest against the European Commission’s proposed directive to increase competition in European ports.
Port workers said they will stage stoppages across Europe today, “to drive home their message to the EU that everyone from unions to port owners rejects its port reform plans,” the union federation said.
Actions will be held in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Spain, Sweden, and United Kingdom.
The actions taken will vary from strikes, to stoppages, to safety discussions, lasting from two to three hours, the International Transport Workers’ Federation said.
The International Transport Workers’ Federation and its European regional arm, the ETF, have warned that the proposed port reforms “would encourage shippers to demand lower tariffs and prices via unsafe working, relaxed safety standards and the use of untrained personnel — leading to the creation of dangerous and sub-standard ports.”
The reform plan has also been opposed by the Federation of European Private Port Operators and the European Sea Port Organization, the union said.
Kees Marges, secretary of the ITF Dockers Section, criticized the proposed reform and the lack of consultation by EC commissioner Loyola de Palacio.
“It’s almost unbelievable that we should have reached this point, seven months after we first approached the EC and indicated our strong opposition,” he said. “All along we have made clear that we are not against competition, but we are against the steamrollering through of a half-baked, unloved and undemocratic directive.”
The EC’s proposed directive on port services and competition aimed to open all port activities to competition, not just between ports, but also within ports.
In June, the European Shippers’ Councils and the European Community Shipowners’ Association said they welcomed the proposal by the European Commission on European port services and competition. At the time, the ESC said certain European ports have activities that are not exposed to competition.