The strike is lead by unions FILT CGIL, Fit Cisl and Uiltrasporti Nazionale, affiliates of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and Dockers’ division of the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF).
All Italian ports are shut today, according to the Political Secretary of ETF Dockers Livia Spera. Based on the available information so far, the city of Genoa is blocked with several thousand people hitting the streets, while workers have organized gatherings in other smaller ports as well. Seafarers have joined the strike as it is also in their interest that lashing is done by dockers, Spera said.
Exact data on how many vessels are being affected by the delays due to the ongoing work stoppages is yet to be determined.
In line with the latest International Bargaining Forum (IBF) framework agreement reached between the ITF and Joint Negotiating Group (JNG) in February, only dockworkers have the exclusive rights to carry out lashing and other cargo handling services in ports for ships which are sailing under the flag of convenience.
As explained by Spera, Italian legislation allows national companies to carry out self-handling, which basically means that crew members of Italian-flagged ships can carry out lashing in particular circumstances. However, on such occasions, the shipping companies are required to get a permission from the relevant port authority.
Over the past six months, shipping companies have started to abuse this right and, have even breached the law, asking their seafarers to perform loading and unloading activities without obtaining port authority’s permission. Some port authorities have also played their part by failing to enforce the regulation.
This is not sustainable because it jeopardizes a lot of dockworkers’ jobs, Spera said.
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