International
Dock workers turn violent in France
Tuesday, January 17, 2006 (Strasbourg):
Demonstrators fought with police and smashed windows outside the European Parliament building in Strasbourg on Monday.
The workers were protesting against a proposal to make port operations in the European Union (EU) more competitive.
Strikes and work slowdowns also disrupted cargo handling at several ports in Europe as unions pressed their opposition to the plan, even as EU legislators predicted it would be rejected.
Police used water cannon and tear gas in a bid to keep thousands of protesters away from the EU legislature in the eastern French city.
Earlier, officers fired pepper gas into a crowd of protesting dock workers from major European ports who threw flares, glasses and stones at officers.
At least three protesters were detained and at least three policemen suffered light injuries, the police said.
At the same time, workers went on strike in Antwerp, Belgium - Europe's second biggest port - and in Portugal and Denmark.
Widespread protests
Dockers staged short work stoppages in Sweden and at Europe's biggest port, Rotterdam, in the Netherlands.
They're angry over the resubmission of a port liberalisation bill by the European Commission, the EU's administrative body.
The commission wants more competition in cargo handling, ending the situation at many European ports where loading and unloading is run by monopoly handlers.
Supporters say it would cut costs at ports, which are often subsidised by governments.
Unions fear the proposal would mean less jobs and lower wages, while cargo handling companies worry they might lose contracts to competitors.
The proposal was rejected by the European Parliament in November 2003, and the same result was expected in a vote set for Wednesday.
Centre-left parties oppose the legislation, and even the conservative European People's Party is split over the issue.
Georg Jarzembowski, the conservative German lawmaker steering the legislation through the assembly, said there was little chance it would pass.