Dockworkers are holding protests in locations across Europe to demonstrate their objection to the poor treatment of workers at the Deepwater Container Terminal (DCT), Poland.
Members of ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation)/ETF (European Transport Workers’ Federation)- affiliated union Solidarnosc who work at DCT, have faced constant obstruction from their employer over the past two and half years as they have sought a collective bargaining agreement (CBA). In particular there is concern over the number of union leaders and activists who have had their contracts of employment terminated during this period.
DCT Gdansk SA is registered in Poland but is majority owned and managed by Australian financial services and asset management company Macquarie, which has several representatives on the supervisory board. Macquarie’s shareholding in DCT Gdansk is held through its Global Infrastructure Fund II (GIF II).
So far two demonstrations have taken place outside Macquarie offices in Frankfurt and Luxembourg, with senior company representatives being called on to meet with ITF/ETF officials to discuss the role they could play in bringing about a resolution to the ongoing dispute. More demonstrations will be organised if Macquarie fails to accept the request for a meeting.
Vice chair of the ETF and ITF dockers’ sections Torben Seebold said: “Solidarnosc members at DCT are seeking a decent CBA, reinstatement of their representatives and colleagues and improvements to pay and contracts of employment. Macquarie can help to make that happen.”
Pictures of the demonstrations can be found here.
