Dockworkers strike at 113 ports across five continents
Dockworkers in 21 countries staged strikes and demonstrations at 113 ports across five continents on Friday, demanding an end to the use of commercial port facilities for military operations and arms transfers.
Under the slogan “We don't work for war,” more than 25 dockworkers' trade unions participated in the International Day of Action, calling for ports to serve civilian needs rather than military purposes, according to 902, the news portal of the Communist Party of Greece.
The mobilization took place in countries including Greece, France, Italy, India, Türkiye, Denmark, Sweden and Germany, with workers organizing strikes, demonstrations and solidarity gatherings.
Major mobilizations in Greek ports
Greece was among the main centres of the international action, with dockworkers organizing demonstrations and work stoppages at several major ports.
In Piraeus, a large strike rally took place, with demonstrators displaying a banner carrying the message: “Workers do not work for war.”
The mobilization also disrupted operations at the port of Thessaloniki, where more than 200 containers and trucks were reportedly brought to a standstill during a three-hour work stoppage.
Workers at the ports of Patras and Piraeus also participated in strike actions, joining the international campaign against the involvement of commercial ports in military operations.
Demonstrations spread across Europe and beyond
In France, hundreds of workers at the port of Fos-sur-Mer, west of Marseille, joined the mobilization, displaying banners opposing war and the militarization of port infrastructure.
In Italy, dockworkers in Reggio Calabria received support from workers and young people, who joined demonstrations and pickets.
In Germany, young dockworkers and apprentices organized a solidarity gathering and demonstration at the port of Hamburg.
Sweden's Port Workers' Union voiced opposition to the militarization of European ports, warning against the use of security legislation to restrict trade union activities and place pressure on workers.
In Denmark, trade unions and federations also expressed solidarity, arguing that dockworkers should not be made complicit in wars or alleged war crimes through the transportation of weapons.
Dockworkers and seafarers in India joined the international mobilization under the call for “ports of peace and jobs with dignity.”
Campaign highlights alleged arms shipment routes
The protests also focused on the alleged use of commercial ports as transit points for weapons and military equipment destined for Israel.
According to the No Harbour for Genocide campaign, several participating ports have been linked to weapons shipments to Israel, including Genoa, Livorno and Gioia Tauro in Italy, Marseille in France, Piraeus in Greece and Tangier in Morocco.
The campaign said it had tracked 315 shipments of components for Israel's largest arms manufacturer, Elbit Systems, passing through 56 commercial ports in 29 countries between August 2025 and September 2026.
Organizers called on port authorities, governments and shipping companies to prevent commercial infrastructure from being used for military transfers.
The international action highlighted growing trade union efforts to challenge the role of civilian transport networks in armed conflicts, with participating dockworkers insisting that their workplaces should serve peaceful economic activity rather than military operations.
Source:AA
