Dockers’ Victory as Ports Directive Is Rejected.

By ITF

Port workers won a major battle in November 2003, when the European Parliament rejected the ports directive aimed at the liberalisation of European ports

In the third and final round of voting, 229 members of the European Parliament voted against the directive, while 209 voted in favour.

The vote represented a defeat for all European governments except for Sweden and Belgium, port authorities, shippers and shipping lines.

ITF Dockers' Secretary, Kees Marges said that "never before has a directive been rejected as a result of workers' actions, including demonstrations and strikes, organised by national and international trade unions. Port workers in the European Union, supported by those outside the EU and even outside Europe, have proved that the future of trade union work lies in the international cooperation of trade unions".

(Transport International; no. 14, 2004)