Tuesday, October 27, 2026
ENGLISH, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2026 – INTERNATIONAL DOCKERS’ STRIKE
Under the slogan “WE DO NOT WORK FOR WAR”
Dockers in over 100 ports across Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa
are teaching the best lesson for our classrooms:
A lesson in peace, friendship and solidarity among peoples,
against the profits and wars of the few! We fight alongside them!
Dear colleagues,
What is being organised on Friday 30 October is no ordinary sectoral strike, but something unprecedented, at least in recent decades. Dockers in over 100 ports across four continents, in Greece, Turkey, Italy, France, Cyprus, the United States, Slovenia, Morocco, Spain, Sweden, India, Ireland, Germany, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and elsewhere, are strengthening their joint action under the slogan “We do not work for war! Ports for the people and for peace! No to imperialist bases!”
Hundreds of unions in metalworking and related trades are joining them on strike.
The World Federation of Teachers’ Unions (FISE) supports this important initiative and this great struggle. Together with them, we are strengthening our common struggle against wars, the militarization of ports and their use for the transport of military equipment. At the same time, we are fighting alongside them for jobs with rights, substantial pay increases and education in safe, modern schools for all children. All the things, in other words, that are being sacrificed on the altar of the war economy and profits.
On 30 October, we are stepping up our struggle, building a wall of resistance against murderous Israel and the wars waged for the profits of the imperialist powers. Friday30 October can and must become a cause for us all!
We, the peoples, have nothing to divide us. As workers, we have nothing to gain from the slaughter of other peoples. It is time to recognize our strength. Each of us individually and all of us together, through our unions, must take our share of responsibility.
The Dockers have declared: “On 30 October, we can bring the movement of almost $2 billion worth of goods to a standstill.” This statement offers our students in schools and universities a valuable lesson on who the real driving force is.
Just as seafarers block military cargo, we teachers have a duty to “block” the narratives used to prepare students in many countries, across all continents, for war and turn them into “cannon fodder”.
Inspired by their stand, we are strengthening our struggle against imperialist wars and their consequences, which we are already experiencing so severely in education, healthcare, housing and access to goods. We salute the massive popular demonstrations involving thousands of students and teachers in France, Spain, Italy, Belgium and elsewhere, which challenge policies serving profit and preparations for war, as well as the European governments that sacrifice education and the rights of the younger generation on the altar of multinational profits.
On 30 October, let us strengthen the seafarers’ struggle! No involvement of ports in war plans! Let us strengthen the struggle for education, work and a life with rights!
With militant greetings,
For the General Secretariat of the World Federation of Teachers’ Unions (FISE)
Affiliated to the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU FSM)
General Secretary: Drissi Abderrazzak
