New Year to bring strikes in Hellenic Ports

News was prepared under the information support of Online Daily Newspaper on Hellenic and international Shipping "Hellenic Shipping News".

25 Dec 2007

It seems that the Hellenic ports of Piraeus and Thessalonica seem doomed to never materialize their potential in becoming regional transshipment hubs and key ports of the Mediterranean, something feasible due to their strategic location. Fresh reactions have been raised by port unions to the renewed privatization attempts by the government, which is seeking to organize a tendering process to allow for a major private player to manage and invest in the ports’ infrastructure. Despite the fact that the dialogue process between the unions and the management of the respective port authorities (government appointed) isn't yet over, the union leaders have decided in favor of a series of actions, which are expected to disrupt the regular course of functioning in the country’s two bigger ports, Piraeus and Thessalonica. Beginning on 5th and 6th of January, workers will be abstaining from overtime labor and weekend work, while the same will apply for the days of 8, 9, 10, 12 and 13 of January. In between two 24-hour strikes are scheduled, the first at the 7th of January and the second on the 11th of January. As a result, major slowdowns are expected to occur in terms of cargo handling and bunkering, leaving all involved parties in a major turmoil. Last year, an almost two-month strike between November and December of 2006, paralyzed the ports' activities and almost bankrupted a series of businesses that are directly dependent on the ports for survival. Agents, brokers, shipping and freight companies, as well as land transportation companies, not to mention importing and exporting companies are all dependent on the ports in order to operate. Hundreds of thousands of jobs were put at risk during the last major labor unrest in the country's ports. Some people must realize that the measure of strikes as a means of pressure, may well be everybody’s right, but must be used wisely and with a sense of responsibility towards other members of the society. If not, the collateral damage incurred may sometimes be beyond repair. The government is actively seeking bidders for a 30-year concession, with the global tender expected at the end of January. The plan is for a company with the status of Cosco, Hutchinson Whampoa, APL, or even DP World to take over the ports’ management, while also pouring in millions of euros, in order to improve infrastructure and handling times. At the same time, the government had earlier pledged in securing all job positions even after the privatization process would have been completed.