Port workers in the Netherlands call a national strike for September 4

FNV Havens, the port workers' union affiliated with the Dutch Federation of Trade Unions (FNV), called a national strike for next Friday, September 4.

In a statement, the organization, which represents stevedores and terminal operators, among others, said that members working at the ports of Rotterdam, Amsterdam, and Zeeland were already informed of the action.

"On that day, between 11:15 AM and 7:00 PM, no ships will be served. This means that loading, unloading, cargo securing, towing, and cargo inspection operations could suffer significant delays," the FNV Havens wrote in a statement published on its website.

©Kees Torn | Port of Rotterdam

Port workers strike for social security once more

The strike seeks to pressure the Dutch government to immediately withdraw the €6.5 billion ($7.5 billion) cut to social security. During a general assembly attended by over 700 port workers, union members had already expressed their willingness to halt work back on March 31.

"We do not accept that security regarding unemployment or disability is sacrificed for other political choices. Social security is not the cabinet's savings account. Employees and employers have paid premiums for this for years," stated Asmae Hajjari, union leader of FNV Havens.

According to the union, these cuts will affect the entire working population in the country, including young people, experienced employees, permanent and temporary workers, as well as the sick and unemployed.

Referential image via Shutterstock

One of the most relevant initiatives announced by the government is to cut the maximum period for unemployment benefit eligibility in half: from two years to one.

"I am thinking of young people who, even after years of work, have hardly any safety net if they lose their job through no fault of their own," Hajjari pointed out. “[The measure] poses significant risks for employees in sectors where employment is under pressure due to automation, digitalization, and artificial intelligence."

FNV Havens explained that workers who do not find a new job after one year of unemployment benefits will have to resort to social assistance, which is subject to a strict asset evaluation, meaning they will first have to exhaust their savings and could even be forced to use the value of their homes to access social assistance.

"These measures dismantle the security that a dignified social protection network should offer. Workers must be able to rely on a system that supports them when they lose their job or become incapacitated to work due to circumstances beyond their control," the union representative added.

In October 2025, the Port of Rotterdam faced a stevedores' strike that lasted for seven days.

*Main image is referential, via Shutterstock. 

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