Dockers protest EU’s plans to open up cargo handling market

Dockers protest EU’s plans to open up cargo handling market    Dockworkers went on strike this morning at Europe’s largest ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp, protesting against the European Union plans to liberalize port industry services, Reuters reported.
   Dutch trade union FNV said it expects about 800 dockers to join strikes at the ports of Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Vlissingen in the Netherlands.
   The strike at Antwerp began at 05.00 GMT and is expected to last 24 hours. Strikes are also planned in France and Sweden.
   The European Parliament will vote Wednesday on the EU’s Port Package II program, which aims to end monopolies on cargo handling by terminal companies and to permit shipping firms to appoint independent contractors to load and unload vessels.