That’s the plea from the ITF to all its member unions who organise dockers. Unions are being asked to send a letter to the Spanish infrastructure ministry, in which they pledge to ‘take any lawful action that may be required to support the Spanish dockers’ if the government does not act. Many ITF unions have already shown their support.
The move came after the ITF and ETF heard that Spanish unions had been told by the government that it intends to approve a law which seeks to aggressively and destructively liberalise the port labour market. The unions told the federations that the government even seeks to dismantle the current dockers’ registration system, which would be in breach of ILO convention 137. The proposed law also ignores agreements reached only recently between the Spanish employers’ association, ANESCO, and the unions.
ITF president and dockers’ section chair Paddy Crumlin described as “beyond belief” the Spanish government’s “callous disregard for Spanish jobs, Spanish prestige and international conventions”.
He added: “The Spanish government is acting beyond sense and potentially beyond international law. Thankfully, Spanish unions are mobilising to resist its determination to wreck social partnership in its ports. They are absolutely assured of our international support.”
The country now faces strikes in all Spanish ports on 20, 22 and 24 February. ITF maritime operations co-ordinator Jacqueline Smith urged the government to walk away from its rash proposal and instead engage in negotiations.
It’s quick and easy to show your solidarity with Spain’s port workers – just send this model letter to the Spanish infrastructure ministry.
