Spanish government loses vote on dockworkers' employment reform

Spanish dockworkers' unions have called off a series of one day strikes after a government decree transforming the system of port employment was voted down in Congress today.

Submitted by Mark. on March 16, 2017

Plans put forward by the minority Partido Popular government looked set to end job security over a three year period with port employers talking about a 60% cut in average pay. The proposals followed a 2014 European Court of Justice ruling that the existing system fails to comply with EU law.

The main dockworkers' union, the Coordinadora Estatal de Trabajadores del Mar, argues that, as in some other EU countries, there are ways to comply with the ruling while safeguarding jobs and avoiding casualisation.

Last minute assurances on job security by minister Iñigo de la Serna failed to convince unions and opposition parties, with deputies in Congress rejecting the decree by 175 votes to 142 with 33 abstentions. All but one of the abstentions came from the liberal right Ciudadanos who last night appeared to be wavering over whether to support the government. This is the first time since 1979 that a decree has has been voted down in Congress.

The vote was held against the backdrop of strikes planned to start tomorrow, continuing on alternate days next week. A worldwide day of action next Thursday, backed by the International Dockworkers Council, would have meant three hour stoppages in other European ports and one hour stoppages in ports in the rest of the world. Portuguese dockworkers had agreed not to unload ships diverted from Spanish ports

Following the vote in Congress unions have called off the strikes and are planning to resume negotiations with employers and the government on Monday.

See this forum thread for updates on the dispute and background on the Coordinadora:
https://libcom.org/forums/organise/spainish-dock-workers-union-19032014

Comments

Chilli Sauce

7 years 8 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Chilli Sauce on March 16, 2017

Result!

Thanks for all your work in keeping us all updated, Mark.

Mark.

7 years 8 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Mark. on March 16, 2017

Yes, the dispute isn't over but it's impressive to have got this far without anyone actually having to take a day off work.

Mark.

7 years 8 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Mark. on March 16, 2017

Admins: maybe this photo could be added to the report. I've also made a couple of minor edits that need approval.

https://mobile.twitter.com/estibacanaria/status/842421173791141888/photo/1

Chilli Sauce

7 years 8 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Chilli Sauce on March 16, 2017

Mark, I've approved the edits and added the pic (who know Saddam Hussein had been reincarnated as a Spanish dock worker?).

I believe that as someone who has blog privileges you should be able to approve your own edits in the future. Just make the edits and click on that revisions tab and then revert to the most recent revision.

(Admins feel free to delete this post.)

Mark.

7 years 8 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Mark. on March 16, 2017

Thanks Chilli.

Steven.

7 years 8 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Steven. on March 17, 2017

Fantastic news, and yes thanks very much Mark for the updates!

Mark.

7 years 8 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Mark. on April 8, 2017

This two part radio programme from Spanish state broadcaster rtve is one of the best English language reports on the dispute that I've come across. It also covers the IDC (International Dockworkers Council) and its origins in the 1995-98 Liverpool dockers dispute. Recommended listening.

Part 1: http://www.rtve.es/alacarta/audios/emision-en-ingles/english-language-broadcast-spanish-dock-workers-30-03-17/3961968/

Part 2: http://www.rtve.es/alacarta/audios/emision-en-ingles/english-language-broadcast-spanish-dock-workers-ii-contexts-31-03-17/3962985/

Chilli Sauce

7 years 7 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Chilli Sauce on April 9, 2017

Mark.

This two part radio programme from Spanish state broadcaster rtve is one of the best English language reports on the dispute that I've come across. It also covers the IDC (International Dockworkers Council) and its origins in the 1995-98 Liverpool dockers dispute. Recommended listening.

Part 1: http://www.rtve.es/alacarta/audios/emision-en-ingles/english-language-broadcast-spanish-dock-workers-30-03-17/3961968/

Part 2: http://www.rtve.es/alacarta/audios/emision-en-ingles/english-language-broadcast-spanish-dock-workers-ii-contexts-31-03-17/3962985/

Everyone should listen to this.