Port workers, along with trade unionists from other sectors, have been resisting the transfer of arms and ammunition destined for imperialist wars through Italian ports and airstrips

The National government, led by Sidney Holland, in an attempt to break the strike, implemented harsh measures including censoring the press from reporting on the strike and making it illegal to provide food and money to the striking workers and their families

The union of dock workers has given an ultimatum to the Setúbal port authorities to review the recent hiring of an external worker, in violation of the collective labor contract signed with the dockers

The ship also met with protests on May 9 at the Le Havre port in France, where it was prevented from loading a planned arms shipment by humanitarian groups.