The Meaning Of Port Package 3.






Next Tuesday 25 Semptember 2012, the European dockworker unions affiliated into the IDC will be organising a 1 hr work stoppage in all ports in solidarity with the Portuguese striking ports, against the new Port reform. This date is also the first day for the European Ports Policy Review conference that will be held in Brussels. The IDCE will be participating in this conference, dennouncing once more the anti-social politics led by Europe and opposing any attempt to liberalise port services, despite de failed attempts of Ports Package I & II in 2003 and 2006 seem to be on the way.


Source: IDC - 
The last few months the IDC (International Dockworkers Council) have been dennouncing the behaviour of the Portuguese government who is trying to implement a new port reform without any social dialogue with the main social partners. This reform would seriously affect the scope of the activities port workers would perfom in ports and would reduce the social benefits and rights workers have achieved over the years.

This unprecedented attack is clearly orchestrated by the Troika and the European capitalist lobbies, and it is totally unacceptable. 

Organisations representing Portuguese dockworkers have sent various proposals to the government agencies and bodies with no response.
Instead, the government has preferred to purchase agreements with unions representing less than 20% of the workers.

The IDC has also tried to contact the European bodies (DG-MOVE), with no succes either.

Following our meeting with the leaders of the ETF we decided to organise an Action Day in solidarity with the striking fellow workers in Portugal.

Here's the latest on whats happening in the UK regarding PP3.

We want to know what the UK employers position is so we are writing to the employers organisation UKMPG and also every Port employer asking them for their position on PP3. As with PP2 we are drawing up draft letters for all members to send to their MP's and MEP's as last time getting them to support the unions position was critical, we are also putting a briefing paper together for the politicians as they probably have no idea about what this directive means either. We are also putting together a newsletter for dockers to explain the EU directive, what it means and whats going on to oppose it. We are talking with other unions in Europe about a co-ordinated strategy of opposition involving ITF, ETF and IDC, also as soon as any demonstrations etc are called we want as much notice as possible so UK dockers can organise funding and travel so they can attend and be part of it. Unite don't want any specific info broadcast as it would assist any group or party who support PP3, especially until we know what the employers position is and how they are prepared to help. Once we have more information we will let you all no what is happening.

This will have a detrimental affect on our lively hoods if the bill is passed, it's now our turn to stand up to the EU and show them UK dock workers will never be defeated.

The meaning of Port Package 3.
The European Parliament alleges that every port and terminal operates a monopoly, because every ship wanting to unload cargo has to use the services of that port or terminal, it’s labour force, its cargo handling facilities and equipment. It argues that EU rules on the free movement of goods and services are being broken because other service providers cannot go into a port and unload ships.
So the EU proposes new laws which basically requires all ports and terminals to compete with other companies, like agency companies, can compete for the work which comes into our ports and terminals. The new laws will undermine every collective bargaining agreement as other employers could take our work. The competition for work would come down to the lowest price, meaning the company which offerred the lowest wage, terms and conditions wins, and we would lose.
Ports themselves would be forced to allow t
he use cargo handling eq
uipment (for which they could charge a fee) and facilities.
The unions and the employers all opposed this last time and we worked together to defeat it, and narrowly won.
This time the employers are keeping quiet which may mean that deals are being done behind the scenes, and that means we’re going to get screwed.
PP3 could mean the end of any type of good, secure employment, which is unionised and has good terms and conditions. It would mean the return of casual labour across the UK and Europe. We’d all be going back 100 years, this is the most important issue that faces us all.
We fight this or we all lose








http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcUxj9yVrxM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=l5XsIo9U9ys





Commission's approach to port services
For many years, the Commission has tried to develop a specific EU policy framework for sea ports. On two occasions in the past 10 years, the Commission unsuccessfully proposed secondary legislation implementing the EU Treaty rules on the freedom to provide services in the port sector.
Today, there is no EU legislation on the provision of port services. There is a patchwork of national regulations, with striking differences from one Member State to another. Exclusive rights in favour of particular operators and market entry obstacles still exist in the port sector.
The most recent Communication on Ports Policy, from 2007, is based on the promotion of soft law measures. Since then, the economic context has changed dramatically. The divide in performance between ports in different regions has continued to grow. While some ports in the EU have been engines of economic growth sustaining the recovery from the crisis, other ports are lagging behind.
The absence of a level playing field for ports and port services in Europe will accentuate the differences between ports. For several European regions, this would represent a lost opportunity of economic growth and jobs' generation. At EU level, it would affect the performance of trans-European networks and negatively affect the overall competitiveness of companies. There is scope for considering that an appropriate, better focused regulatory framework at EU level could ensure a more systematic implementation of the Treaty rules on access to the port services market.
The Transport White Paper adopted by the Commission in 2011 foresees establishing a Single European Transport Area. A framework for ports is part of those initiatives. It is related to the "Blue Belt" initiative (simplification of administrative requirements in ports) and also to the implementation of the Transport Trans-European Networks (TEN-T). The smart pricing and funding proposals of the White Paper are related to the financing of port infrastructures. The White Paper foresees a social agenda for maritime transport, including social dialogue and training of port workers in different fields of port activities.
The impact assessment on the revision of the EU framework for ports services has been launched in 2011 and will take until the end of 2012. It will involve extensive consultation with all concerned stakeholders and the conduct of various fact-finding studies. It will also rely on dialogue with the social partners in the sector. The Commission will draw conclusions and come with fine-tuned proposals in 2013.

Comments from UK Dockers

Morning Brothers, as the attacks on dockers start to spread across Europe and we await our turn. We should prepare now in our workplaces and union branches to be ready to send as many dockers as possible to Brussells or Strasbourg to again show our strength. 
Strength Together

although a few of us at Felixstowe can see this, most are blinkered, cos we work at a thriving, expanding port, and seem untouchable! A reality check is needed!!!

All ports from around the UK are blinkered.. We need to wake up and act before it's to late..
It's good to see that it is starting to be talked about at NISC and a higher level but I personally think we should be going to the national papers and up to a political level. 
The EU is screwing us BIG time and the public need to no about it and we need a national campaign to stop it happening...!

today was a very busy day in Lisbon.... 4 longshoremen arrested and one injured in a protest in a forum impresarial sea, tomorrow the fight continues, and it'll strike again in protest....PROUD TO BE A DOCKER....

Comments