Striking dockworkers crippled Portugal's main harbours Tuesday to protest government plans to alter working conditions as it tries to make the recession-struck country more competitive. The strike, which started early Tuesday morning, most notably impacted the ports of Lisbon, Aveiro, Figueira da Foz, Setubal and Sines. In Lisbon, five cargo ships were re-routed to other destinations, and four were forced to wait in place, said Portugal's harbour authority.
Dockers were protesting government plans to introduce temporary contracts that would favour intermittent workers. The measures are aimed at making Portugal's docks more competitive, particularly against Spain.