Dockworkers’ unions oppose proposed EU port services Directive

Download article in original language : CY0311101NCY.DOC

In September 2003, dockworkers in Cyprus held a two-hour strike to express their opposition to the draft EU Directive on the liberalisation of port services, as part of a Europe-wide trade union campaign against the proposal.

Dockworkers in Cyprus held a two-hour work stoppage on 9 September 2003 and a protest meeting on 29 September, condemning the proposed EU Directive on market access to port services ( EU0302201N). The draft Directive is currently in the final stage of the EU's co-decision decision-making procedure. Its aim is to open up access to port services in EU Member States in order to avoid distortions of competition, and it would increase the scope for 'self-handling'- ie cargo handling carried out by ship's crews rather than dockworkers - and open the pilotage and towing of ships to more competition. Cyprus is to join the EU in May 2004.

The Cypriot workers were participating in protests taking place throughout Europe against the proposed Directive, organised by the European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF) and International Dockworkers Council (IDC). In addition to the action at national level, delegations from Cypriot unions also took part in protests held in Barcelona and Rotterdam. A three-member delegation from the Transport and Dock Workers Union (SEGDAMELIN), affiliated to the Pancyprian Federation of Labour (PEO), took part in the action organised at Barcelona, and an eight-member delegation from the Federation of Transport Workers of the Cyprus Workers ' Confederation (SEK) attended the events at Rotterdam. With regard to the representation of Cypriot unions in the relevant international trade union bodies, SEGDAMELIN is a member only of IDC, while the SEK Transport Workers Federation belongs only to ETF. This difference is the result of a disagreement on the political level, and is not related to the content of the proposed Directive, on which the two unions are in agreement.

According to the general secretary of the SEK Transport Workers Federation, the servicing of ships should be done exclusively by skilled dockworkers, and if this work were assigned to seafarers, it would place in jeopardy both the safety of the crews and the levels of safety within port areas. Within this framework, SEK actively supports the protests of Cypriot and European dockworkers and strongly opposes approval of the proposed EU Directive, while at the same time affirming that if new action is decided by the European-level trade union organisations, such action will also take place at the ports of Cyprus.

For its part, SEGDAMELIN recently completed a study/report regarding the content of the proposed Directive, in which it also sets out the positions of the European-level unions on this issue. The report was presented in detail to the leadership and district secretaries of the union. The aim was to: ensure that the content of the Directive and the possible consequences of its implementation are fully understood; draw up proposals regarding the future of dockworkers of Cyprus; and decide on the framework of demands and the plan of action against the proposed Directive.

In general terms the positions of SEGDAMELIN are the same as those of IDC, mainly with regard to the draft Directive's provision on 'self-handling'. According to the general secretary of SEGDAMELIN, adoption of the proposed Directive would lead to a chain of economic and social repercussions, the most serious of which are:

• lob losses among dockworkers and their replacement by unskilled, cheap labour;

• downgrading of the quality of port services;

• increased cost of the provision of port services; and

• increased work accidents.

Within this framework, the SEGDAMELIN general secretary underlined that if the proposed Directive were to be adopted the trade union movement would react with one voice, at both the national and European levels. SEGDAMELIN has already decided to participate in action planned jointly by IDC and ETF for 17 November 2003. At national level, a meeting will be held in November for both unions to coordinate their efforts and decide upon a joint action plan.