Global dockworkers strike to protest arms shipments and safety conditions

On Friday, October 30, 2026, dockworkers in 113 ports across 22 countries launched a major coordinated strike under the slogan “Workers do not work for war.” The international mobilization, supported by over 25 trade unions, aims to stop the use of commercial maritime infrastructure for the transport of weapons and military equipment to conflict zones, specifically in the Middle East and the Black Sea.

In addition to opposing arms shipments, the protesters are demanding improved working conditions, salary increases, and the mandatory presence of medical personnel on vessels traversing active war zones. The strike affected major global hubs including Piraeus in Greece, Valencia and Algeciras in Spain, Le Havre in France, Tangier Med in Morocco, and Nhava Sheva in India. In Cyprus, dockworkers held solidarity protests at the ports of Larnaca and Limassol.

The action was organized in response to the rising number of seafarer casualties, which union representatives estimate in the hundreds, including fatalities and severe injuries sustained in conflict areas. Apostolos Kypraios, head of the Greek union of merchant marine engineers, emphasized that seafarers are refusing to remain “food for cannons.” The movement continues to advocate for the demilitarization of port facilities while highlighting the physical and psychological toll on workers navigating dangerous waters.