Global Day of Action for Port Workers

In a show of solidarity, on July 7, 2016, dockworkers in U.S. East, West & Gulf Coast ports as well as ports in Europe participated in the first ever “Global Day of Action”, which was an hour long work stoppage to highlight the dock workers safety and working conditions. It was a peaceful stoppage where dockworkers united to remember fallen co-workers by silence, reading their names and prayers.

Dock workers engage in a very dangerous profession. Port work requires the use of cranes, fork lifts and other pieces of very large machinery while loading and unloading containers. The profession requires   skilled workers who are able to perform manual labor. They must be very knowledgeable about how to use the equipment and proper techniques for lifting and stowing.

When the crane operator mounts the crane and readies him or her self to unload a vessel they must be alert and prepared for the duties at hand. To assist them, they are in radio communication with the dock. The workers below depend on them to do their job well. A faulty move of the container could cost another worker serious bodily harm or even death. The workers are not just part of a union; there is a unity among the dock workers who must watch out for each other.

Ships arrive at all times of the day and night. Depending upon the port, the dock workers may be on call 24 hours a day. They work in ever-changing weather conditions; sometimes good and sometimes extremely adverse. A sudden storm while loading or unloading a ship can cause serious safety issues.

Although the dock worker is typically paid well, the job is dangerous and there are a lot of factors to consider before embarking upon such a career. The “Global Day of Action” was organized to highlight that there are dangers involved. The hour work stoppage by ports in the U.S. and Europe represent the unity of the profession.