NEWS UPDATE
London / Brussels
1700 / 1800 hrs
25 September 2001
Belgium: The Action Day has been a great success. On each terminal small groups (per crane) arranged to stop work discuss the issue. Middle and higher managers were involved in the discussions, which was much appreciated. As the small group actions already began in the morning, by the end of the day every shift had been involved in the discussions and work stoppages. Everybody, without exception, agreed that this directive was absolutely unacceptable. In case strikes would be necessary in the future, the preparations for that strike have started today.
Cyprus: ITF affiliated unions met earlier this week to discuss this issue. They pledged their support for their EU colleagues and their commitment to participate in any further activities that may be organised in the future.
Ireland: SIPTU reported that a meeting was held today in Dublin. The meeting involved representatives from the ports of Cork, Waterford and Belfast as well as representatives from the port of Dublin itself. Opposition to the proposed directive was reaffirmed. In addition, the meeting was addressed by the CEO of the Dublin Port Company, who agreed with several of the points raised in opposition to the directive. The CEO also suggested a joint submission by Dublin Port Company, SIPTU and the ITF.
Valetta - Malta: The Port & Transport Section of the GWU told management by official letter that the members would today stage a ‘Go-Slow’ action in the port from 1145hrs to 1300hrs in solidarity with EU unions protesting against the proposed directive.
Netherlands: Because of the combined size of the ports of Rotterdam and Amsterdam activities in the Netherlands are planned for the whole week. Today actions have taken place (and will be continued tonight, when other shifts will arrive) in Rotterdam with Deka Hanno and Uniport, together more than 100 workers. They stopped work for about two hours and adopted a motion in which the employer / terminal manager was urged to contact its own European terminal operator organisation (ESPO) to convince them that they should voice more fervent opposition to the proposed directive. ECT workers, who have recently been on strike about working conditions, hesitated to stay too long in the canteen. No real action there so far. In Amsterdam Ceres and VCK workers stopped work for two hours (VCK from 0900 to 1100hrs). The same motion was adopted.
Norway: Port workers in 45 Norwegian ports stopped all work from 1300hrs to 1500hrs today. Regional TV, national radio and many newspapers covered the strike. Our affiliate informs us that they are ready to take further actions if necessary!
Spain: A ports strike was organised today by the Spanish unions CC.OO. and UGT. The strike lasted 2 hours, from 1300hrs to 1500hrs and was a complete success. There was a total stoppage in all the ports in the north of Spain (Villagarcía de Arosa, Marín, Vigo, La Coruña, Ferrol, Santander, Pasajes, Gijón and Bilbao). There were also stoppages in the Mediterranean ports of Tarragona and Valencia and the Andalucian ports of Seville and Cadiz. There is no other significant news, other than the fact that the Coordinadora did not, in the end, support the actions and actually voiced opposition to them.
Felixstowe - UK: Work was stopped from 1130hrs to 1400hrs, during which time a two hour meeting was held. The meeting was very well attended. The local press covered the events in yesterday’s issue and today’s, while the BBC’s local news network interviewed the T&G official. Dockers furiously oppose the proposed directive. The meeting also discussed FOC matters, together with three ITF Inspectors.
Liverpool - UK: A mass meeting was held at 1200 - 1400hrs today at the TGWU’s Liverpool office. The meeting brought together representatives of workers in all areas of the port industry, including pilotage, towage and mooring gangs. The meeting endorsed its support for the ITF campaign against the proposed European directive and also expressed support for the ITF European FOC Week of Action.
Southampton - UK: A work stoppage took place from 1130hrs to 1400hrs, during which time a meeting was held to discussion the proposed EC Directive. The meeting reasserted opposition to the directive and voiced 100% support for any further action against it. Also attached are some clippings from various news sources and other documents referring to today’s events.
SUBSTANDARD PORTS? NO!
www.itf.org.uk
