Dock workers suspend Rotterdam Port strikes



Wildcat strikes ended after APM Terminals and unions reach agreement
Dock workers at the Port of Rotterdam have suspended their three-week campaign of rolling wildcat strikes at the APM Terminals container facility.

Industrial action was called off yesterday after the terminal operator and unions reached an agreement over a new 27-month wage contract for employees at the terminal.

The strikes caused serious disruptions at Europe’s largest container port, with a number of ships diverting to the neighboring Belgian Port of Antwerp.

The proposals put forward in the agreement will be subject to a vote by the 700 strong dock workers at the terminal next Tuesday, according to the JOC.

Under the agreement it is reported that APM Terminals has given in to union demands of compensating dock workers affected by the government’s pension reform. The Dutch government has recently extended the national retirement age from 65 to 67.

The A.P. Moller-Maersk Group subsidiary, has called upon workers to increase the productivity at the terminal.

The APM Terminals container facility at Rotterdam Port handles about 2.4 million TEU annually.

http://www.itfglobal.org/news-online/index.cfm/newsdetail/7078

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