EUROPE

Portuguese dockers air grievances

13 years ago

A pledge of support has been given to dockers in Lisbon by both the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) and the International Dockworkers’ Council (IDC) in advance of a Europe-wide strike planned for next week.

Unions say that working conditions at Lisbon have deteriorated since the adoption of a new Port Law in February 2013

According to the two organisations, working conditions in the port have deteriorated since the adoption of a new Port Law on 1 February 2013, with dockers allegedly having come under sustained attack from both the Portuguese government and their employers.

According to the ETF, all negotiations between workers and employers have ceased, with attempts being made to establish a new labour pool of non-union workers to replace existing professionals.

A total of 47 dockworkers at Lisbon have also been reportedly dismissed for no rightful reason, it said.

The ETF and IDC have called for social dialogue to commence, attempts at union-busting to cease and for the dismissed dockworkers to be reinstated.

Both organisations believe the situation in Portugal to be indicative of a more serious challenge being faced by dockworkers all over Europe.

They point to European legislation and infringement mechanisms being used to undermine national laws and dockers’ conditions in Spain and Greece, with pressure also being applied to the government of Belgium.

In the week beginning 13 January, dockers across Europe are due to protest at local Portuguese embassies.