DOCKWORKERS LAUNCH NEW STRIKES IN EUROPEAN PORTS

DOCKWORKERS LAUNCH NEW STRIKES IN EUROPEAN PORTS    Dockworkers will organize strikes and protests across Europe at the end of this week and the beginning of next week to express their disagreement with the port liberalization directive of the European Commission.
   The actions are timed to put pressure on the European Parliament, which is considering the port legislation.
   “A range of actions will be organized, all aiming to make port workers' objections heard in the European Parliament, which will consider and then vote on the latest version of the directive on March 10 and 11,” the International Transport Workers’ Federation said. The European Transport Workers’ Federation, the European arm of the federation, will organize a demonstration in Strasbourg on March 10.
   Kees Marges, secretary of the International Transport Workers’ Federation's dock workers' section, said that the directive is “divisive and destructive.” It would open the European continent to “ports of convenience,” he said.
   The union federation objects to allowing “self-handling” by ships, which it says is “the replacement of trained, experienced and registered port workers by cheap casual labour for the convenience of shippers and ship owners.”
   If the directive is approved, the federation warned that protests and other actions will continue and “chaos will rule the European Union port industry for many years to come.”
   The port directive is supported by organizations representing European shipowners and shippers.