Port of Rotterdam strike comes to an end: Agreement reached after 7-day stoppage

Through a LinkedIn post published this Friday, the Port of Rotterdam announced the end of the lasher strike that had affected the port since October 8. 

"We are delighted that the lashing companies and FNV Havens have reached an agreement in principle in the collective labor agreement dispute," read the statement. "This positive outcome is important first and foremost for the lashers, but certainly also for consumers, businesses, and public services, which depend on a well-functioning logistics system."

FNV union representative Niek Stam said workers were pleased with the deal, as reported by local news outlet The NL Times. Roughly 85 percent of Matrans dockworkers and about 70 percent of those at ILS voted in favor of suspending the strike. Union workers now have three weeks to ratify the deal and vote on the agreement's details.

In the social media publication, port authorities emphasized the social costs of the strike and its significant impact on the global logistics system. 

The port informed FreshFruitPortal.com that the current backlog at the point of entry consists of 13 containerships waiting in the anchorage area, of which 11 are deep-sea and two are short-sea vessels.

"We will do everything we can to clear the backlog as quickly as possible and restore calm to the port and the logistics chain," concluded the statement. 

The strike's background story 

Starting Monday, October 8, hundreds of lasher workers at the Port of Rotterdam went on strike. The stoppage was the direct result of long-lasting disputes between the workers (represented by the Netherlands Trade Union Confederation, FNV Havens) and the lashing companies Matrans and International Lashing Services (ILS) over better wages and work conditions.

The stoppage caused significant congestion in Europe's largest port and prevented the processing of vessels.

After five days, the FNV union announced the suspension of the strike following an agreement with the lasher companies. The deal was reached after a broad delegation of logistics representatives requested a court intervention to ban or limit the strike due to its significant social consequences.

After days of negotiations, FNV and the companies involved announced an agreement to increase dockworkers’ wages by between 17 and 20 percent over three years, reported the NL Times. The deal also included automatic inflation compensation and the establishment of two funds to improve working conditions.

* All images courtesy of the Port of Rotterdam

Related stories

Backlog and delays persist at the Port of Antwerp as pilots maintain "maximum rest" actions

Rotterdam Port strike halted for 5 days amid negotiations, while Antwerp pilots continue action

Strikes cripple Rotterdam and Antwerp-Bruges ports, causing major shipping delays in Europe