ComradeOm
16th January 2006, 16:37
EU dockers' protest turns violent
Police in Strasbourg have used tear gas and water cannon to disperse thousands of dockers who marched to the European Parliament in a mass protest.
Protesters threw firecrackers and stones, smashing several windows.
The dockers, from across the EU, had converged in Strasbourg to protest at controversial proposals to open up port services to greater competition.
Those who did not travel to France downed tools, causing disruption at major ports from Greece to Sweden.
The EU's Port Package II proposals will be debated in Strasbourg on Tuesday, with a vote expected on Wednesday.
Among the main ports affected by the strike action are Rotterdam in the Netherlands, Antwerp in Belgium and Le Havre in France.
Pascal Galeote, deputy head of the Marseille port's branch of the CGT union said: "The commercial activities of the Autonomous Port of Marseille (PAM), in Marseille and Fos-sur-Mer, are completely stopped.
"All activities - handling, operating, naval repairs and oil are blocked."
Clashes
Michel Delebarre, the mayor of Dunkirk who also represents the town in parliament, said: "The [EU] directive opens ports up to the most absurd free market ideology. A port isn't a self-service where each ship turns up with its own rules."
In Belgium, a union spokeswoman said: "The strike is total. Nothing is happening in Belgian ports."
Ships were allowed into ports on Monday, but the cargo was not being handled.
Greek, Danish, Swedish and Portuguese dockers also went onstrike. Dock workers in the UK, Italy and Poland were at work but sent delegations to the rally.
A similar protest last Wednesday severely disrupted the container terminal at Hamburg in Germany.
Article at the BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4617262.stm)
Police in Strasbourg have used tear gas and water cannon to disperse thousands of dockers who marched to the European Parliament in a mass protest.
Protesters threw firecrackers and stones, smashing several windows.
The dockers, from across the EU, had converged in Strasbourg to protest at controversial proposals to open up port services to greater competition.
Those who did not travel to France downed tools, causing disruption at major ports from Greece to Sweden.
The EU's Port Package II proposals will be debated in Strasbourg on Tuesday, with a vote expected on Wednesday.
Among the main ports affected by the strike action are Rotterdam in the Netherlands, Antwerp in Belgium and Le Havre in France.
Pascal Galeote, deputy head of the Marseille port's branch of the CGT union said: "The commercial activities of the Autonomous Port of Marseille (PAM), in Marseille and Fos-sur-Mer, are completely stopped.
"All activities - handling, operating, naval repairs and oil are blocked."
Clashes
Michel Delebarre, the mayor of Dunkirk who also represents the town in parliament, said: "The [EU] directive opens ports up to the most absurd free market ideology. A port isn't a self-service where each ship turns up with its own rules."
In Belgium, a union spokeswoman said: "The strike is total. Nothing is happening in Belgian ports."
Ships were allowed into ports on Monday, but the cargo was not being handled.
Greek, Danish, Swedish and Portuguese dockers also went onstrike. Dock workers in the UK, Italy and Poland were at work but sent delegations to the rally.
A similar protest last Wednesday severely disrupted the container terminal at Hamburg in Germany.
Article at the BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4617262.stm)