WASHINGTON: Spain’s minister of public works has announced sweeping plans for liberalization of hiring at the nation’s ports, which could lead to the loss of 6,500 unionized jobs over the next three years. On Thursday, the nation’s longshore unions protested the move and threatened a series of labor actions if the government does not withdraw the plan.
Under current Spanish rules, port operators have to hire stevedores from one local staffing company, known as a SAGEP (Sociedad Anónima de Gestión de Estibadores Portuarios). In 2014, the European Court of Justice ruled that this arrangement was a violation of EU laws on freedom of establishment, and ordered Spain to open up the system to competition. The Spanish government says that the nation pays a penalty exceeding $25,000 for every day that it does not comply with the court order – and the fines are set to quadruple. Faced with the elimination of the traditional system, Spain’s longshore unions have responded with outrage. “The Spanish Government threatens the growth of the Spanish economy and seeks to make the dockworker profession disappear from national ports,” said Jordi Aragunde, general coordinator of the International Dockworkers Council (IDC). “The Ministry of Public Works intends to act on a decree that prevents the country’s economic recovery.”
The International Transport Federation also voiced strong opposition to the decree. “The Spanish government is tearing up the rule book with a callous disregard for Spanish jobs, Spanish prestige and international conventions. Their plans go beyond belief,” said ITF president Paddy Crumlin. Crumlin pointed out that the Spanish dockers had just reached a new labor agreement with the port employers’ association in mid-January.
