The port of Rotterdam will resume operations next week following a preliminary agreement between the lashing companies and the FNV Havens union in their collective labor agreement dispute, reports Port News.
According to the update published on Friday, October 17, at 9:30 a.m., both parties reached a principle accord aimed at ending the recent strike that brought port activity to a near standstill.
The agreement is considered vital for dock workers and for the broader logistics network, including consumers, businesses, and public services relying on an operational supply chain. Prolonged industrial action would have had a disproportionate effect on logistics and society, the statement said.
Rotterdam Port back on track
During a court hearing, representatives from the logistics sector — including shipping companies, terminal operators, road and inland shipping operators, trade associations, and shippers’ organizations — requested that the court restrict or prohibit the strike due to its significant public consequences.
Under judicial guidance, the parties agreed on a temporary solution allowing work to resume from Monday at 7 a.m. for four days, while negotiations between the lashing companies and FNV Havens are set to continue from Sunday morning. If no final agreement is reached by Friday, strikes may resume.
The port companies acknowledged that the compromise is not ideal but said it allows operations to restart and the Netherlands to be supplied again.
The four-day window will help clear part of the backlog and enable container ships to be handled.
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Source: Port News
