Austerity strikes hit European ports

The pre-planned European walkouts and protests held yesterday across Spain, Greece, Portugal and Italy were co-ordinated by The European Trade Union Confederation over austerity measures and poor job prospects. Although mainly targeted at the transport sector, the strikes did have adverse affects on ports.

In Spain, the Spanish General Workers’ Union said that the second stoppage this year involved 100% of workers in the motor, energy, shipbuilding and construction industries. In Spain and Portugal in particular, protests are against austerity measures that have combined taxes with cuts in salaries, pensions, benefits and social services.

At the port of Algeciras yesterday, pilots were operating at only 50% of capacity and sporadic picket lines were noted in Vigo and Valencia, along with trucks and trailers at ports coming to a stand still.

Meanwhile in Portugal, stevedores were on strike which caused the container terminals and depots to cease operations – and there was a similar situation in Aveiro and Figueira da Foz and Setubal and Margueira Lisnave Drydock.

In Greece, the strike action yesterday was the third major walkout in two months and ISS said that it hit Greek ports causing all operations to cease for three hours.

It seems to be business as usual today though. Gavin Griffin, ISS Gibraltar, told Port Strategy. “Everything is up and running again in so far as we’re aware today with no adverse affects to operations”, he said.