Violence Erupts At Manila Container Port Strike

One worker was killed in a violent strike that forced a major international container port in Manila to halt operations on Thursday.

"One of our workers was stabbed in the neck and died," a spokeswoman at the International Container Terminal Services Inc said.

"Because of that we have to stop operations because the lives of those still working are being endangered," she said.

ITSCI is the operator of the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) that handles 70 percent of the international container traffic in Manila. Shares of ICTSI had fallen 3.26 percent to 89 centavos.

ICTSI said approximately 90 workers began an "illegal strike" on Wednesday, barricading the entrance of the MICT to demand collective bargaining with management.

The ICTSI spokeswoman said the man who was killed was not a member of the striking union. However, the union said the man was one of the strikers.

It was reported that the strikers, belonging to the Association of Port Checkers and Workers-Local Union, attempted to enter the MICT premises early on Thursday to urge other workers to join the strike.

Police said they were still investigating the claim of the strikers because there was no gunfire heard at the MICT premises early on Thursday.