The main French port workers' union has called a nationwide strike for Wednesday to protest government reforms and proposed privatization.
The Confédération Générale du Travail (CGT)'s ports and docks federation said that “port workers...will stop working for 24 hours on Wednesday March 26.”
French port and dock workers have been protesting government plans to reform the nation's ports. At the core of the reforms is the privatization of commercial activities including cargo handling and terminal operations.
French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said in January that cargo handling operations at seven of the country's nine public ports are on course for privatization.
The shipping industry has been pressing the government to reform French ports to push for greater efficiency.
Fillon has said he was aware of worries about job security and said that the authorities would be “very attentive to the situation of port workers.”
This latest strike action has come amid requests by the union to the Transport Ministry for a written guarantee that the ports will not be privatized.
The union in calling for Wednesday's 24 hour strike reportedly expressed doubt that they could obtain such assurances.
The union had earlier called off a 48-hour nationwide strike scheduled for March 12 and 13.
The French oil major Total has said its refinery operations are “unlikely to be hit by the strike action.”
The Confédération Générale du Travail (CGT)'s ports and docks federation said that “port workers...will stop working for 24 hours on Wednesday March 26.”
French port and dock workers have been protesting government plans to reform the nation's ports. At the core of the reforms is the privatization of commercial activities including cargo handling and terminal operations.
French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said in January that cargo handling operations at seven of the country's nine public ports are on course for privatization.
The shipping industry has been pressing the government to reform French ports to push for greater efficiency.
Fillon has said he was aware of worries about job security and said that the authorities would be “very attentive to the situation of port workers.”
This latest strike action has come amid requests by the union to the Transport Ministry for a written guarantee that the ports will not be privatized.
The union in calling for Wednesday's 24 hour strike reportedly expressed doubt that they could obtain such assurances.
The union had earlier called off a 48-hour nationwide strike scheduled for March 12 and 13.
The French oil major Total has said its refinery operations are “unlikely to be hit by the strike action.”
