Spanish Parliament rejects law to liberalize port industry

Spain’s Popular Party pushed for the law-decree by arguing it was needed to comply with European standards and anti-trust rules, but critics said it would lead to worse labor conditions for dock workers.    The Spanish Parliament on Thursday voted against a law that would liberalize the country’s port industry, with 175 votes against, 142 in favor and 33 abstentions.
   Spain has faced daily fines as high as 124,000 euros (U.S. $133,000) since the European Commission won a court ruling against the union monopoly of the Spanish port industry in 2014, The Latin American Herald Tribune reported.
   Various members of the Parliament belonging to the Popular Party warned law makers that a failure to pass the bill would lead to further heavy fines.
   Spain’s Popular Party pushed for the law-decree by arguing it was needed to comply with European standards and anti-trust rules, but critics said it would lead to worse labor conditions for dock workers.
   The International Dockworkers’ Council (IDC) said it has called off mobilizations in support of Spanish dockworkers planned for March 23 that were previously scheduled to be held in ports around the world.
   IDC General Coordinator Jordi Aragunde thanked IDC affiliates around the world and “their constant show of support for the workers of Spain and the actions they carried out which brought great pressure to bear internationally, and in Spain.” Aragunde said, “This pressure helped to convince public opinion that the unilateral Royal Decree was reckless, dishonest, and harmful to the interests of the working class- interests which we proudly represent.”