Dockworkers in 22 Countries Strike Over Arms Exports

Dockworkers across 22 countries conducted a coordinated global strike on October 30 and 31, 2026, targeting approximately 113 ports including major hubs in Hamburg, Valencia, Piraeus, and Nhava Sheva. The mobilization, backed by more than 25 unions, demands an end to the militarization of civilian ports and the transport of weapons to war zones, specifically targeting shipments linked to Israeli military operations in Gaza.

In France, the CGT National Federation of Ports and Docks spearheaded a nationwide strike that resulted in a 95 percent shutdown of port operations across 24 ports, including Le Havre and Marseille. French workers combined their opposition to arms exports with protests against government draft budget measures and demands for higher minimum wages. Similar local grievances drove the action in Italy, where the Unione Sindacale di Base called for a 24-hour general strike over rising living costs.

Organizers claim the action could disrupt over 40 percent of Mediterranean cargo and affect more than $2 billion in freight, causing delays of three to five days for transshipments. In solidarity, the General Union of Fishing and Marine Production Workers organized a rally at the fishermen's port west of Gaza City. While some supply chain experts expect limited global impact from the 24-hour stoppage, they warn of exacerbated congestion in ports like Genoa and delays for perishable shipments.