Greek dock workers extend anti-Cosco strike
Dock workers at the main Greek port of Piraeus have extended a strike against the concession of container facilities to Chinese transport operator Cosco which has caused a massive goods holdup, AFP reported.
The dockers, who walked off the job on October 1, decided to continue until this Friday, a protest that has trapped thousands of container units in one of the Mediterranean's busiest harbours.
The union fears the new operators will bring large-scale layoffs and that the influx of cheap Chinese goods will undermine the already shaky Greek family-owned store sector.
Greece's new socialist government inherited the issue from its conservative predecessors who were defeated in general elections earlier this month.
Piraeus port authority (OLP) managing director Nikos Anastassopoulos said the strike has blocked 5,000 container units in the port and has forced the redirection of another 10,000-15,000 units.
"This is an immoral act that punishes the market," Anastassopoulos said.
The port circulated over 1.3 million TEUs in 2007 and OLP last year had a turnover of US$171 million.
The dockers, who walked off the job on October 1, decided to continue until this Friday, a protest that has trapped thousands of container units in one of the Mediterranean's busiest harbours.
The union fears the new operators will bring large-scale layoffs and that the influx of cheap Chinese goods will undermine the already shaky Greek family-owned store sector.
Greece's new socialist government inherited the issue from its conservative predecessors who were defeated in general elections earlier this month.
Piraeus port authority (OLP) managing director Nikos Anastassopoulos said the strike has blocked 5,000 container units in the port and has forced the redirection of another 10,000-15,000 units.
"This is an immoral act that punishes the market," Anastassopoulos said.
The port circulated over 1.3 million TEUs in 2007 and OLP last year had a turnover of US$171 million.