January 19, 2006

European dockers victory shows global tide turning against “pirate capitalism”

The Mari­time Uni­on says a major Uni­on vic­tory in Europe for job secur­ity for port work­ers sig­nals a turn­ing of the tide in the glob­al mari­time industry.

The European Par­lia­ment voted over­whelm­ingly on 18 Janu­ary 2006 to throw out a plan to extend cor­por­ate con­trol over European ports.

On 16 Janu­ary, 6000 dock­ers from 16 European coun­tries moun­ted a strong protest against the plan in Stras­bourg, France, in defence of jobs, work­ing con­di­tions, health and safety, and the qual­ity of port ser­vices.

Mari­time Uni­on Gen­er­al Sec­ret­ary Tre­vor Han­son says it is a major vic­tory that was gained by an act­ive cam­paign by work­ers – and which has implic­a­tions for the New Zea­l­and industry.

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