By Salma El-Sakka
Dockworkers across Europe and North Africa staged coordinated strikes on Friday as part of an international campaign opposing arms shipments through ports and demanding improved working conditions. Unions in France, Italy, Greece, Spain, Turkey, and Morocco issued a joint statement calling for an end to wars in the Middle East, including the conflict in Gaza, and for a halt to what they described as the militarization of ports.
Unions Demand End to Militarization of Ports
The joint declaration stated that ports must not be used to transport weapons, ammunition, military equipment, or troops. Organizers said more than 100 ports across multiple countries joined the protest movement, which could affect operations in parts of Europe, the Mediterranean region, and North America.
Strikes Spread Across Multiple Countries
In Greece, the ENEDEP dockworkers' union called a strike at Piraeus, the country's largest port. Italy's Unione Sindacale di Base (USB) planned demonstrations at key ports including Genoa, Trieste, and Gioia Tauro, coinciding with a nationwide general strike over rising living costs, low wages, and military spending. France's CGT ports and docks federation launched a one-day strike at major ports such as Le Havre, Marseille, Dunkirk, and Rouen, rejecting the militarization of port facilities under European policies and criticizing French government budget proposals that the union says threaten social protections.
Separate Seafarers' Strike Adds Disruption
In addition to the coordinated action, a separate seafarers' strike in Greece over pay, working conditions, and safety measures left ships docked at several ports and disrupted ferry services. The scale of overall disruption remained unclear, with organizers saying participation ranged from full-day strikes to shorter walkouts and demonstrations.
Experts Assess Supply Chain Impact
Supply chain management company C.H. Robinson warned clients that operational disruptions and shipment delays may occur at participating ports, varying by terminal and local participation levels. Marcus Baker, global head of marine, cargo, and logistics at Marsh, said a 24-hour strike is unlikely to cause material disruption to global trade flows, though it could affect perishable and time-sensitive shipments. Judah Levine, head of research at Freightos, noted that at ports like Genoa, where vessels already wait one to two days for a slot, the strike could worsen congestion. Ed Anderson, professor of supply chain management at the University of Texas, said the protest was not expected to cause outright shortages, adding that one day of disruption is relatively limited.
