EU PORTS DIRECTIVE DUMPED

www.rmt.org.uk :: february 2006 :: RMTnews 15 SHIPPING Bridge McFarland S O L I C I T O R S Have you got a problem you need legal help with? As well as offering expertise in a wide range of subjects we have specialists in employment law, personal injury, accidents at sea, diver’s claims and clinical negligence claims Home visits and telephone appointments can be arranged where appropriate 19 South St. Mary's Gate Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire DN31 1JE Tel. 01472 311711 www.bridgemcfarland.co.uk e-mail jrb@bmcf.co.uk T he European Commission’s controversial plans to deregulate port services were soundly rejected by MEPs last month by 532 votes to 120. The vote came two days after thousands of dockworkers staged militant protests in Strasbourg in opposition to controversial plans that envisaged seafarers undertaking dockers work. The defeat of the law means that work in hundreds of ports of the 25 countries in the European Union will continue to be handled by trained dockworkers. The proposed rules would have allowed port operators to employ independent contractors to load and unload vessels and let ship crews do the unloading themselves. International Transport Workers Federation dockers secretary Frank Leys welcomed the rejection of the plans on the grounds of safety and security. “Dockers are no longer hired on street corners, they are trained professionals. “I have always respected seafarers, but it is crucial that loading and unloading is left to experienced workers. “We reject self-handling by already fatigued seafarers and unregistered workers ashore,” he said. He also pointed out that security was needed more than ever in ports. “The use of casual workers hired by companies offering their services to shipping companies does not go hand in hand with maximising security in the port area,” he said. The president of the European Parliament Josep Borrell insisted that the Commission should have withdrawn the legislation once it became clear that it would be defeated, “they could have saved a lot of time and effort”. This is the second time that the European Commission has brought forward legislation to deregulate port services and the second time that the plans have been forcefully rejected, it is unclear whether the Commission will try again. EU transport commissioner Jacques Barrot hinted that Brussels would return to the unpopular plans by claiming the need to create “a genuine European ports policy". "Opening up port activities would allow for further competitiveness and growth," he said. Dockworkers staged a number of strikes, ranging from a few hours to a day, to protest against the proposal. Dockers from several European countries protesting against the European Commission's proposed revised port services package in Strasbourg January 16, 2006. The package, aimed at deregulating port services, was rejected by the European Parliament the next day in Strasbourg. EU PORTS DIRECTIVE DUMPED