The Swedish Dockworkers’ Union, organizing dockworkers in Swedish ports from Piteå in the north to Malmö in the south, expresses deep concern regarding recent developments in the state of Greece and perceived threats against trade union freedoms in the port of Piraeus.

Israel’s horrendous attacks on civilian infrastructure and human beings in the Palestinian Gaza Strip remains the focus of the populations of Europe and, in particular, workers in the maritime industries. The last two years of war were marked by unbelievable destruction of hospitals, schools and civil infrastructure as well as the killing of more than 20 000 Palestinian children according to Save the Children. The Palestinian people is now suffering through a so called ceasefire, which has failed to protect civilians from Israeli expulsions, withholding of lifesaving aid and indiscriminate violence in the West Bank and Gaza.

The Swedish Dockworkers’ Union, along with many of our sister unions within the European Dockworkers Council (EDC), regard the continued military trade between EU states and Israel as tacitly enabling ongoing war crimes. When our governments fail to properly comply with instructions from the international courts, it is both a right and a moral obligation for the trade union movement in democratic states to protest.

In the last year dockworkers in Sweden, France, Italy and elsewhere have acted in accordance with these beliefs when faced with the task of loading or unloading weapons and ammunition going to or coming from Israel.

In this context, we react strongly to news from Greece that the State is currently seeking to prosecute the ENEDEP Dockworkers Union and the Piraeus Labor Center, following a similar port protest one year ago. Legal actions against the ENEDEP’s president Markos Bekris or any other trade unionist speaking out on behalf of the workers, are regarded as direct attacks on our democratic rights and the freedom of association.

The Swedish Dockworkers’ Union condemns these aggressive practices and demands that the Greek State respects trade union rights instead of trying to criminalize protests against Israel’s ongoing war crimes.

Martin Berg
National President
Swedish Dockworkers’ Union