16 Oct 2012

Ineffective Tahiti port strike ends

8:01 pm on 16 October 2012

A strike by French Polynesian tug boat personnel for better pay has been abandoned after the week-long action proved to be without major effect.

Amid delays for cargo ships entering Papeete's port, the French high commission invoked its special powers to guarantee access by commissioning a French Navy tug to help large ships dock.

The move allowed a huge fuel tanker, the Stena Paris, to offload its supplies in Tahiti, thereby averting the risk of shortages.

The union behind the strike has conceded that it has no longer a means to exert pressure.

It says it considers pursuing the matter in court as it objects to the methods used to undermine their strike.