Today, Wednesday 19 June 2013, the formal inauguration of the European Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee (SSDC) for the Port sector takes place in the Métropole Hotel in Brussels. It marks the end of 15 years of pushing for its establishment by the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) that is already represented in six SSDCs. ETF Chair for the Dockers’ Section, Terje Samuelsen, states: “We look forward to contributing to a body in which both parties, notwithstanding their different views, are ready to engage in open and meaningful debates to improve the working conditions of our port workers.”
It was in 2007, after the defeat of to the two port packages and almost 10 years after ETF’s first request for its set-up, that the European employers’ organisations agreed on the principle to form a European Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for Ports.
Terje Samuelsen comments: “After six years of hard work and overcoming many obstacles, I am very happy we have finally arrived to the launch of our Social Dialogue Committee. However, this is only the beginning. The real work to improve the sector and the living and working conditions of its workforce is yet to start.”
ETF Political Secretary for Dockers, Livia Spera, added: “European Social Dialogue only works if all involved social partners value it and if its work is backed by healthy and well developed social dialogues at national level. The ETF is ready to invest and engage in meaningful and open dialogue and expects the other organisations involved do likewise.”
In the European Social Dialogue Committee for the Port Sector, the following social partners are represented: the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF), the International Dockworkers Council (IDC), the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO), the Federation of European Private Port Operators (FEPORT).
For more information, please contact Livia Spera, ETF Political Secretary: l.spera@etf-europe.org–Tel: +32 (0)470 93 05 89.