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Dockers in Spain take strike action over privatisation plans
15 February 2008
Dockers brought the Spanish port of Bilbao to a standstill this week in protest over plans to privatise cargo handling.
Members of the ITF-affiliated unions Federacion Estatal de Transportes Comunicaciones y Mar UGT and ELA-hainbat walked out on 12 February following an announcement that a stevedoring company, currently in majority public sector ownership, will be privatised. The move would mean that publicly run services would no longer retain the sole right to handle cargo, resulting in the privatisation of the port. This claim the unions would have an adverse effect on dock workers as it would make it more difficult to prevent private employers from using casual workers.
The unions’ struggle is being backed by two other unions including the ITF affiliate Federación de Comunicación y Transporte de CC.OO.
ITF Dockers Section Secretary Frank Leys commented: "The ITF and its European arm will monitor the developments closely and assist its affiliates in their struggle by all legal means available if that is what is required."
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