Towards the end of the previous year, employees from various companies and sectors at the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife took the initiative to establish a new trade union organisation to address the issues and requirements of the thousands of individuals who undertake their duties across various operational, logistical, technical, and service areas within the ports of Tenerife. Under the name ‘Workers by the Port of Tenerife’ (TPT), this group is currently in an active phase aimed at raising awareness among the workforce operating in these facilities. In an interview with Diario de Noticias, Henry Rodríguez and Maria Elena Ruiz, members of the union’s leadership, explained that their organisation was created to enhance relationships among workers, companies, and authorities involved in port operations.
-What prompted the establishment of this new trade union?
Elena Ruiz: “The initiative emerged from identifying specific issues within port operations that impact our roles, arising from organisational or regulatory challenges as well as daily work experiences in the companies at Santa Cruz de Tenerife’s port. Workers, in addition to performing our roles, can also contribute ideas and collaborate on solutions to problems that often stem from inadequate communication among all parties involved. Moreover, organisations like ours can provide support and guidance to the thousands of workers unfamiliar with the particularities of functioning within a port environment.”
-How has the initial engagement with the sector been received?
Henry Rodríguez: “So far, we have been conducting informative outreach with colleagues from numerous companies across various sectors. We have held meetings with many members of the port community, who have seized the opportunity to express their concerns and suggestions.”
-What key issues have been identified through these early interactions with the port workforce?
ER: “Interestingly, one recurring theme across all sectors we are surveying, thanks to the workers at the port, is the complexity of administrative processes, which notably differ from other sectors both in terms of labour and business. The vast majority also agrees that engaging with the relevant public authorities is significantly more challenging than in other activities and sectors of the local economy.”
-From the workers’ perspective, how is the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife perceived?
HR: “The primary motivation behind founding our union is our aspiration to safeguard and enhance, as much as possible, our employment conditions. In this regard, we are confident of obtaining the support of all stakeholders involved in port activities. We remain hopeful that we can improve this crucial infrastructure for the island’s economic development. We also acknowledge that, currently, we are not competitive enough to measure up to the port of Las Palmas, necessitating collaboration among all entities: private and public companies, the port authority, and, of course, we the workers. We believe that this imbalance can be rectified over the years by implementing effective strategies, coupled with a lot of common sense and reduced bureaucracy.”
-In your opinion, what are the main distinctions between the two primary ports in the Canary Islands?
ER: “It may seem paradoxical, but due to various factors affecting our port operations daily, potential customers find it far more advantageous to seek services at the port of Las Palmas than in Tenerife. We perceive that, in Las Palmas, carrying out operations in any field entails fewer administrative hurdles when docking, for instance. We wish to collaborate closely with all port stakeholders to eliminate these longstanding obstacles and ultimately achieve equal competitiveness.”
-Do these issues have straightforward solutions, from the workers’ viewpoint?
HR: “We understand that changes have occurred. However, we are convinced that, for instance, if the entry requirements for vessels at the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife were comparable to those in the port of Las Palmas, or if hull cleaning could be performed at Santa Cruz de Tenerife’s port as it is in Las Palmas, we could rapidly enhance our competitiveness and efficiency, significantly increasing the potential for new job creation.”
-What is the principal message that you wish to convey during this initial phase to the port community?
ER: “We encourage all workers associated with the companies at Santa Cruz de Tenerife’s port to join the union. We are here to stay, providing support, advice, and collaboration in any endeavour aimed at improving the port’s activities on the island.
HR: “We are also communicating to the Port Authorities and relevant organisations that we are available to collaborate and contribute our best efforts, as we believe that together we can resolve issues and make our port increasingly effective, modern, and, above all, competitive in the Atlantic.”
