The Portuguese Dockers Union (SETC) plans to stage a strike in the port of Lisbon, which is likely to affect operations in the ports of Setúbal and Figueira da Foz as well, starting April 20th til May 5th, the union said in a strike notice.
The strike will involve all port workers, including also those who have a contractual relationship with the port providing either stevedoring or other types of services.
As announced, the work stoppage in the port of Lisbon will apply to all types of work involving movement of cargo at all terminals, whereas in the ports of Setúbal and Figueira da Foz workers plan to abstain from work on cargo ships diverted from Lisbon.
The strike warning comes amid a failure of the operators of the port of Lisbon to reach a new collective bargaining agreement with the port workers. The latest round of talks, auspiced by the Portuguese Sea Minister Ana Paula Vitorino, fell through on Monday as no agreement could be reached on the organization of planing of work activity and career progress.
The union has been delivering strike notices since November 2015 prompted by the inability of the two sides to find a middle-ground on the new contracts, resulting in the contract dispute of over three years.
World Maritime News Staff