Germany Seaport Strike Causes Cargo Handling Halt and Delays

Cargo and container handling at Germany’s major seaports came to a halt on Monday, June 17, as the union Ver.di initiated a one-day strike to pressure the terminal employers’ association before the third round of wage negotiations. The strike began at 0500 in the container ports of Hamburg and Bremerhaven, extending to secondary ports like Bremen, Brake, and Emden. Reports indicated a complete standstill in port activities, with trucks lining up on bridges leading to the port in Hamburg.

Maersk issued a customer advisory warning of potential network disruptions, with vessels already scheduled for work affected by the strike. Despite the strike lasting only 24 hours in primary ports, Maersk anticipated congestion in container delivery and pick-up, prompting a review of vessel schedules to mitigate impacts on departures. Ver.di also called for a large demonstration in Hamburg, expecting thousands of members to participate.

The union’s demands include a €3.00 hourly wage increase effective June 1, 2024, along with shift allowances and catch-up payments for forgone allowances in 2022. Talks with the Central Association of German Seaport Operators (ZDS) were ongoing, but the strike was staged after no new proposal emerged in the second round of negotiations. Work is set to resume in Hamburg and Bremerhaven on Tuesday, while smaller ports will remain on strike until Wednesday, with further negotiations scheduled for June 17 and 18. Industry stakeholders are closely monitoring the situation, mindful of the potential for congestion and delays as volumes rise and ships navigate longer routes due to diversions.

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