Dockworkers in 22 countries are set to stage a coordinated strike on Friday, protesting against war and the use of ports for arms exports, in an action that could disrupt more than 40 per cent of Mediterranean cargo movements and affect over $2 billion worth of freight.
Originally initiated by dockworkers’ unions in Italy, France, Greece, Spain’s Basque Country, Turkey and Morocco, the protest has gained support from more than 25 trade unions representing 113 ports worldwide.
The industrial action is expected to affect several major shipping hubs across Europe and beyond, including Hamburg, Valencia, Le Havre, Algeciras, Piraeus and Genoa. Morocco’s Tangier Med and India’s Nhava Sheva are also among the ports identified as potential flashpoints.
However, the actual scale of participation and the extent of operational disruption remain uncertain. Genoa port authorities expect only limited impact, while Piraeus has warned of disruptions to ferry services connecting the Greek mainland with the islands.
Among the prominent unions supporting the action are Germany’s ver.di, Ireland’s largest trade union SIPTU, Denmark’s 3F and France’s CGT Ports et Docks.
In India, the Water Transport Workers Federation of India (WTWFI) has extended its support, with organisers indicating that around a dozen ports across the country could experience disruptions.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, a pro-Palestinian campaign group that has repeatedly attempted to challenge Israel’s blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian assistance, has also announced plans for what it described as “coordinated, strategic actions on the water” in support of the strike.
In Italy, grassroots union Unione Sindacale di Base (USB) has called a 24-hour general strike for Friday, with demonstrations planned in more than 40 cities.
In Greece, ferries are expected to remain docked as dockworkers, engineers and seafarers join the industrial action. Workers at Piraeus, the country’s largest port, have announced a work stoppage from 0800 to 1100 GMT.
“We will send our own message of peace from Piraeus, and we will show our solidarity with the peoples suffering from war,” the dockworkers said in a statement.
Other participating unions in Greece are expected to observe a full 24-hour stoppage.
The coordinated action highlights growing labour union opposition to the involvement of port infrastructure in military supply chains, while raising concerns over potential disruptions to international shipping, cargo handling and maritime logistics.