Several European dockworkers’ unions have refused to take charge of Russian ships. Limited initiatives, until Brussels decides to close its ports to Russian ships.
The protest movement first started in northern Europe. In Sweden, as a sign of solidarity with Ukraine, one of the two major Swedish dockworkers’ unions, “Hamnarbetarförbundet”, announced at the end of March that it would no longer touch ships linked to Russia. The blockade chosen by the syndicate includes ships flying the Russian flag, those owned by a Russian company under another flag, or those bound for or coming from Russia.
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“Transportarbetare”, the other dockers’ union, has also decreed a blockade – but only from May 1, to give shipowners time to organize themselves. Thus, some Russian ships such as the Baltic Performer, owned by a Russian company, were able to unload their goods in a Swedish port.
These initiatives echo those of other colleagues in the north of the continent. British dockers on the Isle of Grain in the south-east of the country refused in early March to unload three ships carrying Russian hydrocarbons. A decision hailed by the main Dutch dockers’ union FNV Havens, which had assured that it would not take charge of these controversial cargoes either. Beyond commercial ships, Norway no longer supplies gasoline to the yacht of a Russian oligarch stationed in one of its ports.
Limited initiatives
Elsewhere in Europe, the initiatives of major ports have remained limited, particularly in France. In Le Havre, the CGT dockers did not suspend the unloading of Russian boats. “It can only be a decision taken at European level”, justifies Johan Fortier, representative of the union in the second French port, questioned before the announcement of a possible decision of the EU. By deciding on a boycott alone, the dockers fear penalizing their port and directing Russian ships to competing port cities in Europe.
Swedish dockworkers openly call on their government and Brussels to close their ports to Russian ships, as the UK has already done for over a month. Until now Brussels had waived this type of sanction in its ports. The hesitation is particularly linked to the significant consequences that the blockade could have on the supply of Russian oil, which the EU has for the time being largely kept out of its sanctions.
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But the accusations of war crimes against Russia in recent days have changed the European position. The Commission finally proposed Tuesday to the Twenty-Seven to prohibit European ports to Russian boats. The possible embargo on Russian ships must be studied in the coming days by the Member States, which can only adopt it unanimously.