Port Technology International — 2026-10-26
Maritime and Ports
Port workers’ unions have announced an international day of action for 30 October, with organisers reporting support across more than 100 ports in 17 countries.
In an update dated 21 October, organisers said participation had expanded across four continents, with further expressions of support arriving from unions in several countries.
The campaign primarily opposes arms shipments through ports and the militarisation of waterfronts. Organisers also raised concerns about the potential impact of automation on port jobs.
Strikes have been announced in several countries. Organisers estimate that the action could hold up 40,000 containers for one day, although this remains a preliminary assessment of potential disruption.
They said planned strikes would extend along a stretch of coast from south-western France to Piraeus, covering almost 1,100 nautical miles. According to the announcement, workers represented by the unions involved from the outset handle 40 per cent of Mediterranean container traffic.
Ports named in the announcement include Tangier, Marseille, Piraeus, Gioia Tauro, Genoa and Mersin. Organisers also reported involvement from major ports in northern Europe, Mexico and India.
Among the latest unions to join were ILWU Local 10 at the US ports of San Francisco and Oakland, the Unión de Estibadores e Jornaleros at Veracruz in Mexico, and the Hamburg port workers’ section of Germany’s ver.di.
The announcement also said the European Dockworkers’ Council (EDC) had decided to participate.
The international initiative was launched by CGT Ports and Docks in France, ENEDEP in Greece, LAB in the Basque Country, Liman-İş in Turkey, ODT in Morocco, and Italy’s USB and Orsa Porti.