PORTS PACKAGE 3
For those who don't know what Port Package 3 is please read, this is really important to ALL dockworkers around the UK.
The European Parliament alleges that every port and terminal operates a monopoly, because every ship wanting to unload cargo has to use the services of that port or terminal, it’s labour force, its cargo handling facilities and equipment. It argues that EU rules on the free movement of goods and services are being broken because other service providers cannot go into a port and unload ships.
So the EU proposes new laws which basically requires all ports and terminals to compete with other companies, like agency companies, can compete for the work which comes into our ports and terminals. The new laws will undermine every collective bargaining agreement as other employers could take our work. The competition for work would come down to the lowest price, meaning the company which offerred the lowest wage, terms and conditions wins, and we would lose.
Ports themselves would be forced to allow the use cargo handling equipment (for which they could charge a fee) and facilities.
The unions and the employers all opposed this last time and we worked together to defeat it, and narrowly won.
This time the employers are keeping quiet which may mean that deals are being done behind the scenes, and that means we’re going to get screwed.
PP3 could mean the end of any type of good, secure employment, which is unionised and has good terms and conditions. It would mean the return of casual labour across the UK and Europe. We’d all be going back 100 years, this is the most important issue that faces us all.
We fight this or we all lose
For those who don't know what Port Package 3 is please read, this is really important to ALL dockworkers around the UK.
The European Parliament alleges that every port and terminal operates a monopoly, because every ship wanting to unload cargo has to use the services of that port or terminal, it’s labour force, its cargo handling facilities and equipment. It argues that EU rules on the free movement of goods and services are being broken because other service providers cannot go into a port and unload ships.
So the EU proposes new laws which basically requires all ports and terminals to compete with other companies, like agency companies, can compete for the work which comes into our ports and terminals. The new laws will undermine every collective bargaining agreement as other employers could take our work. The competition for work would come down to the lowest price, meaning the company which offerred the lowest wage, terms and conditions wins, and we would lose.
Ports themselves would be forced to allow the use cargo handling equipment (for which they could charge a fee) and facilities.
The unions and the employers all opposed this last time and we worked together to defeat it, and narrowly won.
This time the employers are keeping quiet which may mean that deals are being done behind the scenes, and that means we’re going to get screwed.
PP3 could mean the end of any type of good, secure employment, which is unionised and has good terms and conditions. It would mean the return of casual labour across the UK and Europe. We’d all be going back 100 years, this is the most important issue that faces us all.
We fight this or we all lose
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