LONDON - The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) said it had persuaded the European Commission to drop a controversial proposal to allow ships’ crews to unload cargoes.
But the ITF, the umbrella organization for 533 transport unions in 136 countries, fears European governments still may try to encourage cargo handling by seafarers.
The ITF warned its members would walk off the job across Europe if the commission’s port reform package, published last week, allowed seafarers to do jobs that are currently prohibited under health and safety regulations.
The reforms still call for so-called self-handling but ships’ crews are no longer included, said Kees Marges, secretary of the ITF Dockers Section.
The commission told ITF officials at a meeting in Brussels on Friday that it had intended seafarers to compete with longshoremen to promote competition in EU ports.
“The commission was perhaps more guilty of naivete than malice,” Marges said. “The only thing this would have promoted was injuries. We are not against sensible competition on a level playing field, but we will always be against something that endangers the livelihoods of port workers and the lives of seafarers.”
The ITF argues that the commission left the self-handling proposal in its directive to open up pilotage to competition. A captain of a ferry, for example, calling at one or two ports on a daily basis should no longer be obliged to have a pilot.
The commission’s change of heart on self-handling had avoided a “serious waterfront dispute,” according to Marges.
The ITF is warning its members however to be prepared to resist moves to allow non-dockers to unload cargoes.
“National governments - especially in Europe - may be tempted to use the trend toward liberalization to try and encourage cargo handling by seafarers,” Marges said. “The ITF will be intensifying its global campaign, and keep a close watch on events in Europe.”
The EU’s planned directive, covering ports handling over 3 million tons annually, calls for improved market access to all services including cargo handling, mooring, towage and pilotage.
It says there should be at least two companies in each cargo sector, fixed terms for operating concessions and more transparent tendering for port contracts.
