Dockers plan renewed strike action in Italian port

http://www.itfglobal.org/news-online/index.cfm/newsdetail/6065

09/06/2011

Dockers in the Italian port of Trieste are pledging to renew strike action that was suspended at the end of May, following disagreements over ways of implementing a pact signed two weeks ago.

The dockers, represented by three Italian unions, initially went on strike over a seven-day period at the end of May in a bid to end social dumping by Trieste’s terminal operators, which are cutting workers’ pay and hiring casual workers employed in substandard conditions. The workers want to see a “pooling” system established to ensure that conditions are properly regulated. The cost-cutting exercise follows increasing competition as a result of the liberalisation of the sector.

Two weeks ago an agreement, aiming to establish a labour supply agency under the auspices of the port authority and managed by the operators, was reached between public and private companies operating in the port. However, current reports indicate that this agreement has failed and that workers are set to take further strike action.

The workers are being backed by the ITF and its European arm, the European Transport Workers’ Federation; they sent the unions messages of solidarity. Meanwhile, unionists in neighbouring Slovenia and Croatia showed their support during the first spate of industrial action, for example, by visiting the striking workers in Trieste.

Frank Leys, ITF dockers’ section secretary, said: “We commend the unions for cooperating well together during this dispute and we urge the companies to enter into good faith negotiations with them to ensure a mutually satisfactory outcome. We are pleased that unions in other countries have shown solidarity with their colleagues in Italy.”