'We don't work for war': Dockworkers strike at 113 ports across 5 continents

Dockworkers in 21 countries staged strikes and demonstrations on Friday at 113 ports across five continents, protesting the use of commercial ports for military purposes.

Under the slogan "We don't work for war," more than 25 dockworkers' trade unions took part in the International Day of Action, demanding that ports serve people's needs rather than military operations, according to 902, the Communist Party of Greece's news portal.

Strikes and demonstrations were reported in countries including Greece, France, Italy, India, Türkiye, Denmark, Sweden and Germany.

In Greece, a massive strike rally took place in the port city of Piraeus, where demonstrators unfurled a large banner near the port bearing the message: "Workers do not work for war."

The mobilization also affected 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 staged strike actions.

In France, hundreds of workers at the port of Fos-sur-Mer, west of Marseille, joined the mobilization under banners opposing war and the militarization of ports.

In Italy, dockworkers in Reggio Calabria received support from workers and young people, who joined the mobilization with banners and pickets.

Separately, young dockworkers and apprentices in Germany staged a solidarity gathering and demonstration at the Port of Hamburg.

Sweden's Port Workers' Union voiced opposition to the militarization of European ports and warned against the use of security legislation to restrict trade union activities and put pressure on workers.

In Denmark, trade unions and federations also expressed solidarity, saying dockworkers should not be made complicit in wars or war crimes through the transport of weapons.

Dockworkers and seafarers in India joined the international action, calling for "ports of peace and jobs with dignity."

According to the No Harbour for Genocide campaign, several participating ports, including Genoa, Livorno and Gioia Tauro in Italy, Marseille in France, Piraeus in Greece and Tangier in Morocco, have been linked to weapons shipments to Israel.

The campaign said it had tracked 315 shipments of components for Israel's largest arms manufacturer, Elbit Systems, that passed through 56 commercial ports in 29 countries between August 2025 and September 2026.