THE European Commission's dock reforms will threaten jobs and working conditions in pilotage, towage and mooring, according to the European Transport Workers Federation, (ETF) whose opposition is shared by the Port of Rotterdam and local allied business interests.
The European Commission, the EU's executive, announced coming reforms to increase efficiency and to have cargo more evenly distributed throughput ports in the 27-member bloc.
At present three ports - Rotterdam, Antwerp and Hamburg - handle a fifth of Europe's seaborne trade, leading to congestion and extra costs for shippers, noted Newark's Journal of Commerce. The reforms do not cover cargo handling, after controversial earlier EU directive was withdrawn in the wake of dock strikes in 2006.
"Even if dock labour is not included in the new regulation it is clear that liberalisation of port labour is still on the commission's agenda," said ETF's docker chief Terje Samuelsen.
"The strategy seems to have changed as we have passed from comprehensive one-size-fits-all proposals to targeted interventions at the national level," he said.
The EC has made clear its intention to return to the issue of port labour in 2016, Mr Samuelson said. "European dockers remain vigilant and are ready to fight back any attempt to deregulate their professions."
IMO&EU NEWS
27 May 2013 - 21:21
European Transport Union joins Rotterdam in opposing EU port reforms
THE European Commission's dock reforms will threaten jobs and working conditions in pilotage, towage and mooring, according to the European Transport Workers Federation, (ETF).
IMO&EU NEWS
27 May 2013 - 21:21
European Transport Union joins Rotterdam in opposing EU port reforms
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