Spanish dockworkers have called nine days of strikes to protest against government plans to allow ports to hire non-unionised labour. The strikes threaten to disrupt trade for up to three weeks from 6 March, which could cause serious problems for the Balearics where there is such a high dependence on merchant shipping.
Stevedores last week called off a planned three-day strike after the government said it would put its reforms on hold and open talks, but the decision to push ahead with a bigger strike came after the government signalled it would not change parts of the plan.
The proposals would allow companies operating in ports to hire staff that do not belong to unions, a move unpopular with union members but which would help bring Spain in line with European Union regulations. The nine days of stoppages across dozens of Spanish ports are scheduled to take place on alternate days, meaning disruptions could drag on for three weeks between 6 March and 24 March.
Negotiations between the unions and the government were set to continue. About two-thirds of Spain’s exports pass through the ports, which handle some 500 million tonnes of merchandise a year.
3 comments
To be able to write a comment, you have to be registered and logged in
What is really annoying them is that the job is a closed shop, jobs being handed down from father to son and other family members.I suppose I would do the same thing if I knew I would be earning anything from 60 to 80.000 euros a year, with easy shifts and 2 hour days if it so "happened" that I had to finish loading a ship after my scheduled shift had finished.
This is why EU will never work as you get people who obey and people who don't obey the rules. You only have to look at the inheritance tax Spain does not obey EU rules on that also.
Spain in the eu oh yes or course they are they just don't obey the rules ,,,