Stevedores’ strike brings container terminals in Rotterdam to a halt

Work at the major container terminals in the Port of Rotterdam has largely come to a halt due to a strike by stevedores, say handling companies Matrans and ILS. Since Wednesday afternoon, the workers, who handle the securing and releasing of containers on ships and docks, have stopped working for 48 hours.

Employers described the strike as “unjustified” and “extremely harmful,” predicting that other businesses in the container supply chain will also suffer. The handling companies expect that the work stoppage will lead to a backlog of ships waiting to enter the port.

“The logistics process is being massively disrupted,” says Matrans CEO Erik Bouwens. He explains that operations are coming to a standstill. “If you can’t handle the containers, you can’t load or unload. New ships can no longer be processed.” On the land side, container handling continues as usual, he adds.

The stevedores are on strike to secure a better collective labor agreement. The FNV union is calling for a 7 percent pay increase and for wages to rise in line with inflation. Matrans and ILS described the demands as “excessive,” noting that stevedores already earn above-average salaries.

Employers have proposed annual wage increases of 4 to 6 percent. They noted that wages have already risen by roughly 25 percent over the past four years. “The FNV’s excessive demands will push prices even higher, and it is unlikely our customers will cover the cost. We believe the limit has been reached,” the employers stated.

Matrans and ILS handle all stevedoring work in the Port of Rotterdam. FNV representative Niek Stam said shortly after the strike began that no stevedores remained on the job. Together, the two companies employ about 700 people.

The Port of Rotterdam Authority could not provide an estimate of the strike’s impact on Wednesday.