On 30 October, an industrial action is set to take place at over 50 ports across Europe, the Mediterranean and other regions.

The planned action is prepared by unions and workers in France, Greece, Spain, Turkey, Morocco and Italy, alongside reported support from northern Europe, India, Mexico and the US.

Ports involved include Tangier, Marseille, Piraeus, Gioia Tauro, Genoa and Mersin.

According to a report by Splash247, support has also been reported from ILWU Local 10 in San Francisco and Oakland. In addition, Germany’s ver.di union in Hamburg plan to join the action, as well as dockworkers at Veracruz in Mexico.

With this action, unions seek to prevent ports from being used for arms shipments and to oppose the movement of weapons, ammunition and military equipment to conflict zones.

The initiative follows a meeting of European and Mediterranean dockworkers’ unions in Istanbul in May, where participants agreed to coordinate action against the arms trade and the militarisation of port infrastructure.

In Italy, Genoa, Livorno, Trieste, Civitavecchia, Ancona, Ravenna and Gioia Tauro are included in the mobilisation.

The Italian transport ministry has formally registered a nationwide 24-hour port workers’ strike for 30 October.

The effect on port operations is expected to differ by location. While some ports are set to face walkouts, others will hold demonstrations rather than full operational stoppages.