Wharfies in US and Europe set to strike

Industrial unrest looms

US wharfies, members of the International Longshore & Warehouse Union attending the union's caucus last week authorised the union's negotiating committee to call for a strike vote, Lloyds List reports.

The union has suspended talks with the Pacific Maritime Association, which represents employers until August 13, when the collective bargaining agreement that governs 10,500 unionised workers

expires.

Steve Stallone, the ILWU's communications director, told Lloyds List the talks were postponed because ILWU officials were tired and needed a holiday.

"They will use the time to meet members in their home ports."

To get endorsement for a strike vote the committee first has to mail ballots to its members.

Meanwhile in Europe stevedoring workers are preparing for battle over EU plans to create ports of convenience.

The system would allow ships to use their own labour or a private workforce to stevedore cargo.

Spain's largest unions, CC.OO and UGT, have proposed a motion on the directive for discussion at the International Transport Workers' Federation's 40th congress, to be held next month in Vancouver, Lloyds List reports.

MUA officials will be attending the conference.

A series of lightning strikes earlier this year brought serious disruption to ports across Europe.

"If we carry out actions every day in different ports, without spending too much energy you can destroy just-in-time (logistics chains) and the schedules of the shipping lines," ITF Dockers' Secretary Kees Marges told Lloyds LIst.

Download more info:
ITF Background paper on US and Europe disputes (word file file)

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