Wednesday, January 22, 2003
Re: Work Disruptions by European Dockworkers

                   PORT STRIKES SPREAD ACROSS EUROPE

     Coordinated strikes of dockworkers to protest against the
     proposed European liberalization of port services are spreading
     across Europe.

     According to the European Transport Workers' Federation, the ports
     of Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Antwerp, Zeebrugge, Ostend, Limassol
     are Larnaca went on strike earlier today.

     Labor actions and stoppages are also due today in the ports of      Hamburg and Bremerhaven.

     Eduardo Chagas, an official at the European Transport Workers'      Federation, said further actions would take place next week in
     French, British, Danish, Maltese and other ports. Port workers in      Spanish ports are also expected to stage protest actions.

     The federation of transport workers' unions said the actions "will
     send a new signal to the European Commission, the European      Parliament and the member states of their rejection of the proposed      directive on  market access to the port services."

     The European Parliament is scheduled to start new discussions
     about the port directive in the next few days, following the adoption
     by the European council of transport ministers of a
     common position in June last year.

     "In its present form, the directive is unacceptable and, if adopted,      would cause social unrest which would last for a long time," the      transport workers' federation warned. "It would degenerate
     the working conditions of port workers, threaten their employment,
     jeopardize their health and safety, slash their vocational training
     and weaken their skills."

     The European Commission said the proposed port liberalization      measures would improve the quality of port services and lower
     their costs. Labor counters that they will make ports unsafe, and
     turn them into "ports of convenience."

     The port directive is supported by organizations representing ship      owners and shippers, but broadly opposed by European ports. We
     will continue to keep you up to date on any and all activities
     concerning this issue. If you require more information please do
     not hesitate to call our office.

Best regards,
Gregory N. Taylor