- Verdi advocates for another protest against the MSC agreement
With the Hamburg Parliament's impending decision on MSC's involvement in HHLA's Hafenlogistik firm, protestors are planning another march against the deal. The Verdi union is urging workers, dockers, and public critics to attend (beginning at 2 PM) from the Landungsbrücken to the town hall and HHLA headquarters in the Hafencity.
According to Verdi, the agreement poses a threat not just to HHLA jobs but also to positions at other port companies, including the overall port operation and Lasch operations. Furthermore, MSC would gain significant veto power through the deal.
The red-green Senate of Hamburg aims to bring MSC on board to strengthen HHLA and container handling. The city will hold a 50.1% share, while MSC will hold 49.9%. Initially, the city owned approximately 70%, with the remaining in free float.
In return, MSC plans to increase cargo volume at HHLA terminals from the following year, aiming to almost double it to one million standard containers annually by 2031. Additionally, the Swiss shipping company intends to build a new German headquarters in Hamburg and boost HHLA's equity capital by 450 million euros, in partnership with the city.
Initially, the deal was expected to be approved during the parliament's last session before the summer break. However, as the opposition blocked the final vote, it has been postponed to September 4, during the first session following the summer break. Given the two-thirds majority of the red-green coalition in parliament, the Senate's decision in favor of the agreement is virtually guaranteed.
Protesters are preparing to voice their concerns about the potential impact of the deal on various port jobs during the march, focusing on the 'Shipping' company's influence. Despite Verdi's concerns, MSC has committed to increasing cargo volume at HHLA terminals, which could significantly impact 'Shipping' activities.
