Port unions are staging coordinated strikes at 113 ports in 22 countries. The action is expected to spread to major ports including Hamburg, Le Havre and Piraeus, with severe delays feared amid moves to halt the handling of war-related cargo.
Coordinated action by port workers is taking place worldwide, with more than 25 unions staging strikes and demonstrations at 113 ports in 22 countries and regions. The action has expanded significantly from its status in February.
In France, the CGT called for 24-hour strikes at approximately 24 ports, with up to 95% of domestic port activity potentially coming to a halt. In Italy, a nationwide 24-hour strike was recorded alongside a general strike in other sectors.
In Greece, seafarers’ unions called for a 24-hour stoppage, which is expected to affect ferry services in Piraeus, Rafina, Lavrio, Patras and Igoumenitsa. The action is centered on workers handling approximately 40% of Mediterranean container transport, and delays of up to approximately 40,000 containers were estimated as a possibility.
The scale of the disruption is unclear, and some ports have not suspended cargo handling alongside the demonstrations. The action primarily targets the movement of military cargo through civilian ports, with calls for higher wages, improved working conditions and preparations for automation. In other regions, operations in Los Angeles and Long Beach could be threatened on 1 November, while discussions continue. A new nationwide general strike is scheduled in Italy for 20 November.