A few days before the official handover in the European Transport and Energy Commission, the International Dockworkers Council (IDC) reiterates its firm rejection of the constant attempts to deregulate the port sector in Europe. From this point of view, the resurrection of the ghost of “selfhandling” by the outgoing Transport and Energy Commissioner, the conservative Loyola de Palacio, despite it being defeated in the European Parliament in November 2003, is inadmissible. This practice would allow shipowners to work with their own operatives, which would lead to the destruction of the dockers’ profession in Europe’s ports. The short-term benefits to the large shipowners would lead to an increase in accidents, chaotic shipping, and to cap it all, an increase in the price of services which would affect everyone’s pockets. The arguments to reject the Directive proposed by the Union’s most conservative wings were not only accepted by dockworkers, but also by most shipowners and politicians.
However, Loyola de Palacio, who must leave her post before 1 November, has been unable to accept the legitimate victory of the European dockworkers, who co-ordinated a movement in defence of their profession which crossed frontiers and made their voice heard in the European Parliament at Strasbourg. As a result, the European Directive which aimed to leave the port sector exclusively in the hands of large shipowners was completely rejected by the European Parliament, which is the only institution elected by popular vote in all the European Union countries. Acceptance of democratic norms is the only feasible way forward in building Europe. As a result, the insistence of the outgoing Commissioner, de Palacio, on imposing a Directive that has been rejected in all possible arenas, is unacceptable.
European dockworkers will under no circumstances accept any attempt at a last-minute approval of regulations without their participation. The IDC therefore wishes the greatest success to Loyola de Palacio’s replacement on the Commission, the Frenchman Jacques Barrot, and is convinced that he will succeed in overcoming the disagreements with workers at that have arisen in recent years.
The main lesson learnt in November 2003, when Loyola de palacio’s Directive was defeated in the European Parliament, was that unilateral decisions cannot be imposed. Workers have the right to participate in decisions affecting their future, as they are the ones who know their profession best, and who can provide the knowledge enabling the sector to strengthen and grow. Increasing safety at work, employment stability, the quality of service... the true commitments of the IDC for the future.
