Strasbourg, France
Thousands of dock workers attacked the European Parliament building this week, smashing windows and fences in a protest against a bill that would allow competition in cargo handling. Some 6,000 rioters inflicted several hundred thousand dollars’ worth of damage to the building before riot police dispersed them with water cannons. Cargo at E.U. ports is currently handled by local monopolies. Under a proposed reform, companies would be required to bid for cargo handling contracts, and workers fear their wages would be cut as competing companies are pressured to lower their prices. Analysts said the dock workers need not worry. The E.U. executive body has pushed for competition in a number of sectors, and the European Parliament always rejects it.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
'We already have the tools to do better'Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Kurdish PKK militia to disband for Turkey talksspeed read The Kurdistan Workers' Party will disarm after four decades of armed conflict with Turkey, putting an end to 'one of the longest insurgencies in the Middle East'
-
US, China agree to lower tariffs for 90 daysspeed read US tariffs will fall to 30% from 145%, while China will cut its tax on US imports to 10% from 125%
