Wage dispute - Warning strike at the port of Bremerhaven again
Harbor workers in Bremerhaven plan to go on strike again. Around 3200 employees from Bremen and Bremerhaven are expected to bring the harbor to a standstill starting from Tuesday afternoon (2 pm), according to a spokesperson for the union Verdi. The warning strike will last until the end of the first shift on Wednesday (6 am). There will also be a strike in Hamburg's harbor.
With the warning strikes, the union aims to increase pressure on employers during wage negotiations for employees in seaports. Verdi is demanding, among other things, a wage increase of three euros retroactively from June 1st, as well as a corresponding adjustment of shift allowances, with a duration of the collective agreement of twelve months.
Inflation has heavily affected employees, Verdi negotiator Maren Ulbrich stated. In particular, employees in lower wage groups need financial relief. In addition, wage differences between different groups should decrease.
The next round of negotiations between Verdi and the Central Association of German Seaport Employers (ZDS) is scheduled for July 11th and 12th in Bremen. At the start of the negotiations, a rally is planned, according to a spokesperson for the union.
In June, there were warning strikes in several North German harbors, including Hamburg, Brake, and Emden. Harbor workers went on strike at the central loading and unloading points at the terminals in Bremerhaven, with only a skeleton crew in operation. Over 1,000 employees were involved according to Verdi.
- The United Services Union, a prominent trade union in the UK, has issued a warning that it might join the wage dispute in Germany, potentially escalating the situation at the Port of Hamburg and Bremerhaven.
- The wave of warning strikes in German seaports, including the Port of Hamburg and Bremerhaven, has prompted employers to reconsider their positions on tariffs, recognizing the need for wage adjustments.
- The employer association, ZDS, has been urged to take the wage dispute seriously, considering the potential impact of the strike on trade and commerce at the Port of Hamburg and its satellite ports in Bremerhaven and Hamburg-Finkenwerder.
- As the deadline for the next round of negotiations in Bremen approaches, concerns about the impact of the wage dispute on cargo handling at the Port of Hamburg and Bremerhaven have prompted calls for a swift resolution.
- The employer has expressed its deep concern over the prospect of an indefinite strike at the Port of Hamburg and its sister ports in Bremerhaven and Hamburg-Finkenwerder, which could significantly impact business operations and international trade.
- In light of the ongoing wage dispute at the Port of Hamburg and the pending warning strike in Bremerhaven, experts have warned of potential delays in shipping and increased costs for importers and exporters in Germany and beyond.
