Date: Monday, December 13, 2005

Re:	EUROPEAN DOCKWORKER PROTEST TURNS VIOLENT IN STRASBOURG, FRANCE

As reported by The American Shipper:

On Monday, January 16, 2006, police in Strasbourg used tear gas and water cannons to disperse thousands of dockworkers who marched to the European Parliament to protest against plans to liberalize port services, the BBC reported.

An estimated 6,000 protesters joined the rally with at least 13 dockworkers arrested and 12 policemen injured in violent skirmishes.

The dockworkers were protesting against the European Union's Port Package II program, which aims to end monopolies on cargo handling by terminal companies, and to permit shipping firms to appoint independent contractors to load and unload vessels.

Elsewhere in Europe, striking dockworkers effectively closed down the Continent's largest ports--Rotterdam in the Netherlands, Antwerp in Belgium and Le Havre in France. Greek, Danish, Swedish and Portuguese dockworkers also went on strike, while dockworkers in the United Kingdom, Italy and Poland continued operations but sent delegations to the rally in Strasbourg.

The EU's Port Package II proposals will be debated in Strasbourg on Tuesday, with a vote expected Wednesday. The European Parliament rejected a similar bill three years ago, and the same result is expected this week, the BBC said.

Best regards,

North American Shippers Association (NASA)
Joan Barrett
NASA Administrator