Warning strikes in Hamburg’s port: “Container handling is at a standstill”

“Things are continuing as we started. Container handling is at a standstill,” said André Kretschmar, Verdi’s department head responsible for the maritime economy, to the German Press Agency. In the morning, dock workers also want to emphasize their demands with a rally at the Central Association of German Seaport Operators (ZDS).

The union says it expects around 2,000 participants. Afterwards, a demonstration march past the headquarters of the port logistics company HHLA to the union building is planned. The employees went on a warning strike on Tuesday morning, and ports in Lower Saxony and Bremen were and are also affected. The fourth round of negotiations in the wage dispute is planned for Thursday and Friday in Bremen.

Three euros higher hourly wages demanded

With a collective agreement running for twelve months, Verdi is demanding, among other things, an increase in hourly wages of three euros retroactively from June 1st, as well as a corresponding increase in shift allowances. The ZDS recently offered a wage increase of 2.9 percent, or at least 80 cents more per hour, as of June 1st. Shift allowances are therefore to increase by 33 cents to 3.50 euros.

In mid-June there were already warning strikes in several northern German ports, including Hamburg, Brake and Emden. Dock workers also went on strike at the central entrances and exits to the terminals in Bremerhaven, with only an emergency crew deployed. According to Verdi, more than 1,000 employees were involved.