ITF union start week of action against EU port directive

ITF union start week of action against EU port directive    The International Transport Workers’ Federation began on Monday a “week of action” that includes dockworker    strikes and work stoppages across Europe.
   The dockworkers are protesting against the European Commission’s port liberalization directive, which will allow seafarers on board vessels to carry out cargo-handling operations for the first time in Europe.
   “During the week teams of ITF inspectors and volunteers from other ITF affiliated unions will inspect flag-of-convenience and national flag vessels across Europe, searching for suspect and unsafe practices,” the union federation said.
   Teams boarding ships will also distribute    to crews leaflets in various languages explaining what the union federation describes as “the dangers of seafarers carrying out dockers’ work.”
   The federation said that the countries participating in its European week of action are: Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.