Port workers in Ireland will stage protest actions next month as part of an EU-wide campaign against a proposed liberalisation of port activities.
The protests are being organised by the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), which claims the proposed EU port directive will lead to increased use of casual and untrained labour.
Unions affiliated to the ITF are particularly concerned that the directive will facilitate the increased use of so-called "self-handling" by shipping com-panies.
This involves ships' crews or land-based employees of shipping companies handling cargo, work which was traditionally carried out by specialised dockers.
Mr Tony Ayton, the ITF's representative in Ireland, said the professional docker was "a dying breed", and the EU directive would "hasten his demise".
Union leaders would meet next week, he said, to decide what action port workers would take in Ireland as part of the ITF protest, which runs from September 8th to 12th.
He did not envisage, however, that the Irish workers' action would necessarily disrupt commercial activities in the ports.
"The aim is to highlight our concerns.
"To win support for our cause, rather than alienate people, will be the objective at the end of the day," he said.
Up to 6,000 port workers, in the North and the Republic, could take part in whatever action is decided upon.
In a statement the ITF said its aim was "to stamp out the growing use of self-handling and to ram home the message to the EU that the proposed port directive would open the door to the use of unskilled and untrained labour".
"The ITF's European inspectors, supported by docker volunteers and seafarers, will back the action by boarding ships and distributing information on the threat of self-handling by seafarers," the statement said.
