Containers at a land port. Photo: Shutterstock Tomorrow, Friday, October 30, is expected to be an international day of protest by port workers, with strikes, work stoppages and demonstrations announced across Europe and other countries around the world.
According to a statement from the Italian labor union USB, more than 25 unions representing workers in 113 ports, in 22 countries and regions and on five continents, have joined the initiative. The protest focuses on workers' opposition to transporting weapons and military equipment through commercial ports, along with demands to protect workers' rights and employment conditions.
The protest is expected to be particularly felt in the Mediterranean basin, where some of Europe's most important maritime trade hubs operate. 24-hour strikes have been declared in France, Italy and Greece, while protests of varying scope are planned in other ports. However, joining the initiative does not necessarily mean a full shutdown of every participating port.
In Italy, protest actions are expected in nine ports: Genoa, Livorno, Civitavecchia, Ancona, Ravenna, Trieste, Carrara, Bari and Gioia Tauro. The activity is organized by the USB and ORSA Porti labor unions, which are joining the international movement.
Italian ports are economically and strategically important. The port of Genoa serves as one of the main trade gateways for northern Italy, while the port of Gioia Tauro in Calabria is an important hub for container shipping. The ports of Trieste and Ravenna also play a central role in the movement of goods between Italy and European markets.
Their participation in the protest raises concerns about delays in commercial activity and cargo handling, but the extent of disruptions will depend on how many workers join the strike and how port management operates.
In France, the port workers' union CGT Ports et Docks announced participation in a protest in a long list of ports, including Marseille, Le Havre, Dunkirk, Bordeaux and Nantes. In Greece, protest actions are expected at the port of Piraeus, one of Europe's important trade gateways, along with other ports including Thessaloniki, Patras and Heraklion.
In Spain, the initiative includes the ports of Barcelona, Valencia, Algeciras and Malaga, and in Germany, workers from the Port of Hamburg have joined in. Trade unions in Sweden, Denmark, Portugal, Slovenia and other European countries have also announced their participation in the protest actions.
Participation varies by country, and not all ports are expected to go on a full strike. Some may have demonstrations, rallies, or limited work stoppages.
The international initiative was formed following a meeting of port workers' unions held in Istanbul in May 2026. The participating unions demand an end to using commercial ports to transfer weapons, ammunition, and military equipment destined for war zones.
Alongside opposition to the arms trade, the workers also want to raise the agenda of their employment conditions, the impact of automation on workplaces, and the need to improve wages and safety at ports.
From the unions' perspective, the protest was meant to highlight dock workers' power to influence international supply chains and the use of commercial infrastructure for military purposes.
According to announcements made ahead of the protest, Friday is expected to feature a combination of strikes, work stoppages, and demonstrations at major ports across Europe. In Italy, where nine ports are included in the protest plan, the impact of the move on dock operations and cargo movement will be examined.
Despite the broad international scope of the initiative, it is still not possible to determine how many ports will be completely shut down and what the extent of the economic damage will be. The full picture will only become clear once the protest actions begin and reports from the ports themselves.