Dockworkers around some of Europe’s key ports will strike for just two hours on Thursday in planned industrial action to show solidarity with Spanish colleagues. 

The International Dockworkers Council (IDC) has called a Europe-wide port stoppage in support of the conflict faced by Spanish dockers and in opposition to what it describes as the “ultra-liberal policies of the European Commission.”

The IDC tells Fresh Fruit Portal dockworkers from Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Greece, Malta, Montenegro, Portugal, Spain, Slovenia, Sweden, Latvia and the U.K. all plan to demonstrate “their total unity in action” from 10am to midday on June 29.

The row centers around stevedores in Spain fighting against the country’s port employer association over their right to exclusive labor and pay against increasing switches to automation within the sector.

The political fight has been going on several months and Spanish dockers went on strike over two days recently, bringing many Spanish ports to a standstill.

The Spanish government is pushing for labor reforms to come in line with EU policy, but unions believe reforms go against the rights of workers.

Now, the IDC says it also completely opposes any attempts to increase job instability and “precariousness in the ports, along with any form of privatisation that opposes the interests of workers” and says all dock activities will cease for the two hour period.

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