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EU proposal irks ITF

The European Union's proposal to allow shipping lines to provide their own cargo handling services has evoked sharp reactions from the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), the umbrella organisation for 533 transport unions in 1 36 countries. The proposal is part of the reform package the EU proposes to introduce to inject competition into port services, covering cargo handling, towage, mooring and pilotage, and recommends maximum periods of operating conce ssions and appointment of neutral bodies to award contracts.

The ITF complains that the so-called self-handling plan will take away jobs from port and dock workers and undermine the safety of the ship's crew. It has warned that its members would walk off jobs across Europe if the European Commission allows seafare rs to do jobs that are currently prohibited under health and safety regulations. In fact, the ITF has already warned its members to be prepared to resist moves to allow ship's crew to unload cargoes.

It is not clear yet if the EC will back down in the face of the ITF's threat. The EC sees no reason why self-handling should not be allowed in principle if the operators feel such action provides better use of their resources and improves efficiency. The shipowners, too, it is learnt, support the EU package which, they feel, promises to reduce terminal handling charges, a significant expenditure in the total transport chain.

The EC, it is learnt, is trying to head off the ITF protest by working out a compromise formula. According to that, the self-handling plan may still be in force, but without involvement of the seafarers. -- Our Bureau