The Swedish Dockworkers Union fully supports the French CGT dockworkers

The Swedish Dockworkers Union fully supports the legitimate demands of the French CGT dockworkers and we offer our full solidarity with whatever mobilisation and action being planned by the French union.

More than two years of negotiations have taken place following the approval of the Port reform of July 4 2008.

The key issues in these negotiations have been the recognition and classification of dock labour as “hazardous and ardous” which means an early retirement scheme and the creation of a Framework Agreement,

which would bring together all the French port- and dockworkers and ensure certain social benefits taken away in the Ports Act 2008.

To the surprise of the union more than two years of negotiations have recently been thrown overboard, all previous agreements being questioned and a directive from president Sarkozy was given to

the Employers association on January 5^th and presented to the Union – all deals, but not concessions made by the workers, were off!

As the Federation points out, the negotiations conducted in 2010 were always backed by the government, and the early retirement scheme would not be linked to the national pension reform, but the actual port reform passed in 2008.

Of course our French comrades are frustrated, dissapointed and angry over this breach of faith and see no other recourse than industrial action.

From the Swedish Dockworkers Union we urge the French government to resume negotiations with the Fédération Nationale des Ports et Docks CGT and the employers to reach an agreement between the social partners .

From the Swedish Dockworkers Union we express our full solidarity with our French comrades and we will be ready to assist in every possible way.

In solidarity

Swedish Dockworkers Union

Björn A.Borg

National chairman