EUROPEAN DOCKWORKERS? UNION SUPPORTS PORT DIRECTIVE AMENDMENTS

EUROPEAN DOCKWORKERSÆ UNION SUPPORTS PORT DIRECTIVE AMENDMENTS    The European Transport Workers’ Federation said the amendments adopted on Tuesday by the European Parliament concerning the European port liberalization directive are a positive step.
   The parliament adopted amendments to the initial proposal, including a rule that makes it compulsory for port services providers to be authorized by the port authority or the national authority, according to certain criteria.
   The union fears the directive can lead to the replacement of dockworkers by cheaper, unqualified workers, often from non-European Union countries.
   The European Transport Workers’ Federation considers the European Parliament vote an important step in ensuring the liberalization process of the port services market “will take into account the need to prevent the creation of ports of convenience in the European Union and avoid social dumping and the erosion of social and working conditions.”
   The directive must be discussed by the EU's council of transport ministers. The changes adopted by the European Parliament are expected to require a conciliation procedure to iron out differences between the parliament and the council of ministers.
   “Although we can support the amendments introduced by the European Parliament, we are aware that the process is not finished and strongly urge the council of transport ministers to support the proposed amendments,” the dockworkers’ union said.
   A spokesman for the union said it remains opposed to “self-handling” of vessels in cargo handling. The European Parliament amended the directive to allow self-handling only by seafarers — not by land-based staff.
   However, the European Transport Workers’ Federation said this raises questions about whether seafarers will work under the same social standards as dockworkers. The directive would allow seafarers to carry out lashing operations on board.
   Eduardo Chagas, spokesman for the union, said the European Transport Workers’ Federation “is not that pleased” about the self-handling provisions of the directive on cargo-handling. “It’s an old aim of shipowners,” he said.
   Loyola de Palacio, vice president of the European Commission, sought to reassure port workers by saying that social and environmental standards would have to be met under self-handling. The idea of the directive was to introduce competition between land or sea-based companies employing regular full-time workers, and not resorting to casual labor, she said.