Unions: Spanish Govt Boycotts Dockers Employers Deal

Offshore and Home Trade Seamen's Welfare Trust Spanish government has again boycotted a deal reached between the countrys stevedores and their employers, according to a joint statement from unions Coordinadora and Federación de Trabajadores Portuarios (FTP). After intense meetings, port companies association Anesco and trade unions have reached an agreement in principle according to which they would seek the governments subrogation. The subrogation by the government is said to be the only way for jobs and equal conditions between port operators in Spain the current and the new ones to be guaranteed. However, the unions claim that Julio Gómez Pomar, Secretary of Ministry of Public Works, sent contradictory messages, stating that the governments subrogation is now not feasible. The agreement in principle also includes provisions for compulsory and voluntary retirement of workers during the transitional period. Earlier this month, the Spanish Congress rejected the royal decree on the port system reform which was presented by the government. Proposed earlier this year, the new law was supposed to enable ports to hire non-unionized dockworkers instead of the unionized ones. This was expected to result in massive layoffs in the future. World Maritime News Staff