Building a progressive struggle in Europe: European Dockers mobilization against the liberalization of port services

Transcription

1 Building a progressive struggle in Europe: European Dockers mobilization against the liberalization of port services Brussels, 24 November 2016 Eduardo Chagas, ETF General Secretary

2 Who we are Pan-European organization Members are trade unions from the transport and fisheries sectors 235 trade unions from 41 European countries More than 3,5 million transport workers Recognised social partners in 7 Sectoral Social Dialogue Committees TEAM of 18 Financially independent from EU institutions

3 The European Port Sector A sector playing an important economic role: Employment: Although it is difficult obtaining reliable data, we estimate of direct jobs and 1 million of indirect ones The EU has 1036 ports, 300 of which have a traffic higher than 1 million tons per year 90% of what the EU imports is delivered through maritime transport and is therefore handled in ports 2 billions of tons of freight are loaded and unloaded every year 70% of containers are handled by few big port operators (Maersk, PSA, DP World, Eurogate)

4 Who owns ports in Europe? Private entities Cities, local and regional authorities «Autonomous» ports are controled by the States Some ports are managed by public-private partnerships

5 The different port services Cargo-handling services (mainly ensured by dockers) The other port services are: pilotage, towing, mooring, etc. Services performed by several operators, public or private, according to different settings

6 The European Commission legislative work on ports policy up to 2006 The Green Paper on ports and maritime infrastructures (December 1997) The White Paper on European Transport Policy (September 2001) The first proposal for a Directive on market access to port services Port Package I (February 2001) The second proposal for a Directive on market access to port services Port Package II (October 2004)

7 A fundamental step toward a coordination between transport trade unions at trans-european level: The struggle against Port Package I ( )

8 The Port Package I The declared aim: establishing fair and open competition in ports Lack of consideration of the peculiarities of the sector: an incoherent directive made up of elements picked up from previous directives issued to liberalize other transport sectors

9 The Port Package I A hidden agenda: weakening trade unions presence and start deregulating labour organization in ports Challenge to a labour system coming from a long-lasting struggle carried out by the port workers movement (i.e. ILO Convention n. 137 on port work, establishing registers for port workers)

10 Giving the first steps European Transport Workers Federation

11 The Port Package I Definition of a common strategy Creation of a Dockers Section coordination group (assessment of previous actions and definition of future ones) Involve a consistent number of countries and trade union organizations to be actively engaged in the actions (B/NL/DE/FI/DK/CY/SW/MT/FR/ES) Respect for the differences existing between the national legal framework for undertaking collective actions (strike/temporary stoppage of activities, etc.)

12 The Port Package I Trans-national solidarity: envisaging the struggle at European level transcending national situations (i.e. Germany, where trade unions were supported by the Socialist/Green government) Make national (Ministers) and European (MEPs) decision makers aware ( This has never been done we were told) Organizing punctual demonstrations in coincidence of the important steps of thedirective's legislative process (discussion in the EP, etc.)

13 The Port Package I One of the keys for success: the coordination of actions (work stoppages / coordinated in many EU ports) Respecting the differences in weight and mobilization capacity of the various organizations ( each one according to its means ) The importance of defining clear interfaces between the different organizations involved

14 The Port Package I European Transport Workers Federation

15 The Port Package I European Transport Workers Federation

16 The success of the struggle against the second port package (PPII): The consolidation of trade unions coordination at trans-european level!

17 The Port Package II A «new» proposal for a Directive A principle unacceptable by trade unions: the establishment of the obligation to allow self-handling practices (ship-owners can choose personnel of their choice to load/unload vessels) to both on board personnel and land-based workers (in opposition to what is stated by ILO Convention n 137) Allowing seafarers to perform cargo handling would imply severe risks for workers and maritime safety

18 The Port Package II The directive put forward concessions periods to be granted from port authorities to operators which would have not been long enough to allow investments to be properly paid off The contentious argumentation on lack of competitiveness: European ports are amongst the most competitive worldwide (unloading a 40 feet container cost was about 300 $ in Asia, 200 $ in USA and 100 $ in Europe)

19 The Port Package II The implementation of an effective and structured lobbying action : At national level: lobbying from affiliates towards decision makers At European level: the role played by the ETF Towards the EP: Search for political support (MEPs, political groups, etc.). Briefing the MEPs on the real threatens contained in the proposal Towards the European Commission (meetings/ petition/postcards)

20 The Port Package II Building up a communication strategy and a campaign: Press releases and follow up of what was reported by the media Posters, tee-shirts, a unique slogan «Proud to be a Docker» Dedicated web site

21 The Port Package II Once again, one of the keys for a successful campaign was he capacity to coordinate and hold simultaneous actions: The actions held simultaneously in the ports (11 January 2006): UK/GR/DK/FIN/FR/DE/ES/BE/NL/CY/MT/IT/SE (strikes/information days to involve workers/ press conferences) The massive demonstration held in Strasbourg in January 2006 (between 8 and dockers)

22 The Port Package II European Transport Workers Federation

23 What next? European Transport Workers Federation After the failure of PPII, the Commission withdrew its proposal and launched a consultation process, based on dialogue with stakeholders A Communication followed, putting forward a general action plan for the priorities to be tackled in the near future This included the promotion of the establishment of a Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for Ports

24 The main demands of the ETF A port policy to be fully integrated in an overall strategy for sustainable transport Common interest must prevail over corporations interests Full and open consultation of all the stakeholders and definition of a consensual approach Social and labour-related questions must be tackled by the European Social Dialogue Committee on ports and not through legislation

25 A Port Package II ½ and the Commission s new tactics After a series of non-meetings, a new proposal has been published addressing liberalisation of technical-nautical services. European Parliament report has introduced fundamental changes Commission is now pushing for trilogue negotiations after first reading. This prevents further input from trade unions (and others) into the EP work. Trade unions need to rethink their approach: faster decisional process requires closer follow up, earlier intervention and, as always, strong mobilisation

26 THANK YOU!