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Dockers’ action in Belgium leads to reprieve on five-point plan
11 June 2009
Targeted industrial action by dockers in Belgium over employers’ inclusion of a controversial “five-point plan” in bargaining negotiations has won an agreement to put the proposal on hold.
The workers represented by two ITF-affiliated unions - ACV-Transporten Communicatie and the Belgische Transportarbeidersbond (BTB) - and the trade union federation, Algemene Centrale van Liberale Vakbonden van België, took part in stoppages on 8 June. Antwerp, Ghent and Zeebrugge were affected.
The dock workers were in dispute over port employers’ insistence on including a five-point plan in the workers’ collective bargaining negotiations for 2009/2010. The plan includes provisions to: hire workers several times a day, rather than for every shift; change the functions of some dock workers so that they no longer have “registered docker” status; reduce docker-specific social security allowances when work is not available and cut weekend and night-time working allowances. The plan would seriously impact on the dockers’ working conditions, as the employers attempt to force workers to bear the brunt of the economic crisis. However, since the action, the employers’ have agreed to put the plan on hold and continue with normal collective bargaining negotiations.
Frank Leys, ITF dockers’ section secretary, said: “We have to monitor the developments in the ports closely with the help of our sister organisation, the European Transport Workers’ Federation. Employers in Belgium are trying to introduce greater flexibility in hiring and firing and other measures in response to the economic downturn. Similar steps are being taken in other European countries.
“We cannot allow workers to carry the largest part of the economic burden of a financial crisis caused by irresponsible bankers who are still collecting their bonuses. The unions have been prepared to sit at the table with responsible terminal operators to find a joint way through these tough times, and to stop ports turning in to areas of wasteland."
Industrial action across Belgian ports is a rare occurrence as a strong system of social dialogue and joint decision-making has always existed.
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