OLP strike could close Piraeus port

The closure of the container station in Piraeus is one of the options the Piraeus Port Authority (OLP) is examining should the port workers and truck drivers’ strike mean storage space is full of cargo.

Already the container station has over 5,000 units stored there, its total capacity being 15,000. OLP sources said yesterday that if in the next 10 to 15 days there is no change in the situation, the OLP storage space will be full and the port authority will be forced to close the port. It will also inform all international forwarding companies so that they can choose other commercial ports at which to unload cargo originally destined for Piraeus.

Market sources noted that “if the port closes because it will not be able to accommodate any more containers due to the port workers’ strike, then there will be a chain of product price increases as the forwarding costs will go up and consumers will be forced to pay for it.”

In its meeting yesterday, the Federation of Permanent Port Employees in Greece (OMYLE) decided to escalate its industrial action, announcing a 24-hour strike on January 30, and to continue to refuse to work overtime and weekends in February as well.

Earlier a representation of the OLP employees’ union met with Merchant Marine Minister Giorgos Voulgarakis, who provided them with information about the draft law on the employees of OLP and the Thessaloniki Port Authority (OLTH), ahead of the concession of certain port services to private investors. The employees disagreed with the proposed regulations and said they “will continue to fight so that private investors do not enter ports.”

Voulgarakis answered that the denial by employees to accept the draft law constitutes a political mistake, adding that “our disagreement with the employees is political and not technical.” He noted that there are very positive conditions for every employee to improve their position and said to “have no doubt that in a short period of time this will have become law and global operators will be a reality.”

The draft law provides for the voluntary exit of personnel hired before May 1999 (approximately 150-200 people), a transfer to other state posts in a similar capacity, depending on their years of service as well, and a package of shares allocated to employees at one-third of the stock price when the deal is realized.

Source:StockWatch