Published: 2 Nov 2009
Greek dock workers strike against privatisation
DOCK workers at Piraeus, Greece's main terminal launched a 48-hour strike Monday in protest at container facilities going to Chinese shipping and port operator Cosco, Lloyds List reports.
The port employees federation (OMYLE) wants the deal scrapped. It wants the government to give assurances on labour relations and state control over the facilities.
The walkout began at midnight on Monday and the workers will meet again tomorrow to examine future action, the OMYLE said in a statement.
"There was no commitment on issues such as the state's control [over the port] and safeguarding labour relations," OLP's dock workers union said.
Lloyds LIst reports the Greek state, which owns 74% in Piraeus Port, signed a €3.4bn ($5bn) deal last year with China's Cosco Pacific, the world's seventh largest port operator, in an effort to turn its port into a regional hub.
The deal is for Cosco to run and upgrade the two piers for up to 35 years.
