Dockworkers at International Lashing Service (ILS) and Matrans Marine Services in the Port of Rotterdam will go on strike for 48 hours, starting Wednesday, October 8, at 3:15 p.m. and ending Friday, October 10, at 3:15 p.m., reports Port News.
Rotterdam Port grinds to halt
According to the union FNV, the strike follows the employers’ failure to respond to a union ultimatum demanding an improved collective labor agreement. “The whole port comes to a standstill without lashers,” said FNV official Niek Stam.
The strike is expected to affect container terminal operations across the port, particularly at the ECT Delta Terminal (port 8200) on the Maasvlakte.
Workers from the day shift will stop operations safely on Wednesday afternoon, and the evening shift will not resume work. The employees are asking for a 7% wage increase on top of the automatic price compensation (APC). Two other container handling companies have already agreed to a 4% annual raise above APC and a 35% shift allowance.
“For less than one euro per container, this can be resolved,” said Stam. “Lashing companies receive outsourced work from container terminals, but the rate for lashers is far too low. If that rate increases by one euro, we cover the costs. Shipping lines make massive profits and invest heavily in automation, but they have too little regard for manual labor. Automation should serve workers, not come at their expense.”
FNV aims to secure fair pay and restore collective agreements to levels comparable with the rest of the sector.
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Source: Port News
