Strasbourg, 05/02/2013 (Agence Europe) - Dockers and unions have been sounding the alarm over worsening working conditions in Spanish, Greek and Portuguese ports. They also denounced the increasing pressure from ship owners to liberalise work in the ports. Until now, the Commission has stood firm and apparently still does not want to intervene in port handling (as it has done in the aviation and railway fields). However, the International Dockers Council (IDC) and the European Transport Workers Federation (ETF) have expressed fears over the growing influence of ship owners in this area. The two organisations are also calling on the Commission to ensure that in the event of concessions being made to private operators or investors, transparency is guaranteed and that social criteria is taken into account, as well as workers' rights respected. They also believe that the Commission should open an investigation into maritime companies, whose behaviour has contravened free competition. These are becoming increasingly powerful, to the disadvantage of other port operators.
On Tuesday 5 February, the ETF and IDC met in Brussels to raise these questions. They intend to meet again in spring to assess whether the situation has improved in Spain, Portugal and Greece, in particular. If this does not prove to be the case, they may plan on taking action. (MD/transl.fl)