HHLA works council strictly against the entry of the shipping company MSC
The Group Works Council (KBR) of Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) has spoken out strictly against the entry of the world's largest shipping company, MSC. "The risks far outweigh the opportunities, HHLA and the Hamburg port industry will be damaged, jobs and working conditions will be massively jeopardized," said Christian Baranowski, Chairman of the KBR, on Friday.
In its statement on the takeover bid by Port of Hamburg Beteiligungsgesellschaft SE to HHLA shareholders, the KBR therefore also spoke out against the deal. According to the KBR, the Executive Board and Supervisory Board of HHLA must submit their reasoned statement on the offer of October 23 by next Monday.
The offer followed the binding letter of intent signed by MSC and the City of Hamburg. According to this, HHLA is to be run as a joint venture after the successful completion of the transaction, with the city holding at least 50.1 percent and MSC a maximum of 49.9 percent. Hamburg currently holds around 69 percent of HHLA. The transaction is still subject to official approvals. MSC expects the transaction to be completed in the second quarter of 2024. MSC is offering EUR 16.75 per HHLA share.
Baranowski said that the KBR would not call for strikes or demonstrations due to the Works Constitution Act. However, the workforce is already in talks with the Verdi trade union. At the same time, Baranowski appealed to the members of the Hamburg parliament not to approve the deal. Every member of parliament "has a responsibility for what they are doing. And we hope and expect that everyone will live up to this responsibility."
HHLA's independence would be massively jeopardized if the major shipping company MSC were to enter the market. "There is a threat of customer migration at the container terminals," said Baranowski. After all, no shipping company wants to help the competition make profits. "Fritz Cola won't put Pepsi in the conference rooms either."
Baranowski called on the Senate to take a clear stand for the HHLA employees. Should it hand over HHLA, which has been in municipal ownership for almost 140 years, to MSC, a rescue collective agreement must be concluded "that ensures the preservation of HHLA AG with all its companies and its structure". This also included location guarantees and the exclusion of compulsory redundancies.
The proposed entry of MSC into the shipping industry through a joint venture with HHLA could significantly impact the company's transportation operations. Traffic at the container terminals might change, potentially leading to challenges in managing shipping.
Given the concerns raised by the KBR about the risks to jobs and working conditions, it's crucial that traffic management in the transition period is handled carefully to minimize disruptions.
Source: www.dpa.com
