Greek container port workers on strike

Hundreds of Greek dockworkers walked off the job Monday in a 24-hour strike to protest the planned privatization of container terminal facilities at the ports of Piraeus and Thessaloniki.

Dockworkers are planning work-to-rule protests for the rest of the week, and a second 24-hour strike Friday.

Last month, Merchant Marine Minister George Voulgarakis said the government would launch a tender for the management contract of two of the three container wharfs in Piraeus, and for the entire container terminal in Thessaloniki -- with tenders to be completed by June.

Piraeus is among the 10 largest ports in Europe, and the largest port in container throughput in the eastern Mediterranean.

Dubai Ports World, Cosco Pacific Ltd., AP Moeller Maersk AS, Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. and Zim Lines have all expressed interest in the privatization, according to Greek media reports

The government scrapped a similar privatization effort in 2006 following weeks of disruptive dock protests.

Source:RamblerNews