Entrepreneurs file emergency lawsuit to halt Port of Rotterdam strike

A group of entrepreneurs is filing an emergency lawsuit on Friday against the FNV trade union over the strike by dock workers in the Port of Rotterdam, according to business organization Deltalinqs. The plaintiffs are asking the court to halt, delay, or restrict the strike, arguing that its impact is so extensive that it could lead to broader social issues, such as disruptions in the supply of goods to retailers and healthcare providers.

Deltalinqs, which advocates for companies operating in the Port of Rotterdam, is being joined in the lawsuit by organizations representing inland shipping, road transport, port terminals, and cargo shippers.

FNV Havens began a strike on Wednesday among dock workers to press for better terms in a new labor agreement. After turning down a fresh proposal from the stevedoring firms Matrans and ILS, the union said on Friday that the strike would continue for an indefinite period.

Dock workers handle the securing and unfastening of containers on vessels and along the quays. Their strike has brought loading and unloading operations to a halt, causing mounting bottlenecks throughout the port.

Dozens of activists from the group Geef Tegengas are also blocking terminals in the Port of Rotterdam on Friday. They claim that the city of Rotterdam and the port are “complicit in the genocide in Gaza.” The organization has announced a “mass blockade” for Saturday, aiming to shut down all transport to and from the port.

According to Deltalinqs, the goods moving through the port are essential for daily life in the Netherlands. “We hope this situation will end soon,” the group said. “We call on the strikers to resume talks with their employers, that’s where these discussions belong.” As for the activists, Deltalinqs emphasized that while protest is “an important democratic right,” it should be exercised “in ways that don’t disrupt others.”