Lisbon Dockworkers Plan New Walkout

Sindicato dos Estivadores The Portuguese Dockers Union (SETC) plans to organize a further strike action in Portugals port of Lisbon, which could also affect operations in the ports of Setúbal and Figueira Da Foz, the union said in a strike notice. SETC added that the strike would start from 8 pm on May 12, 2016 and last until May 27. The work stoppage in the port of Lisbon will apply to all types of work involving movement of cargo at all terminals. All port workers, including the ones who have a contractual relationship with the port providing either stevedoring or other services, would be involved in the industrial action. The latest strike notice follows a work stoppage in the port which started on April 20 as the port’s dockworkers launched a strike which could last until May 5, SETC earlier said. The industrial action follows a three-year dispute period over a new collective bargaining agreement between the port workers and the operators of the port of Lisbon. 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. World Maritime News Staff