Hamburg, September 5 – A 48-hour warning strike initiated by the ver.di trade union has significantly impacted ship handling and container operations in the Port of Hamburg, as workers press for an 8.2% wage increase. The strike, which commenced overnight into Thursday, September 4, has seen port workers in Hamburg and other North German ports temporarily cease work.
Strike Action Across North German Ports
In addition to Hamburg, port workers in Bremen, Bremerhaven, Wilhelmshaven, Emden, and Brake also participated in the temporary work stoppage. In Hamburg, webcam footage on Friday morning showed numerous container cranes standing idle, affecting the loading and unloading of ships. HHLA, the port operator, declined to comment on the extent of the impact, with a spokesperson only referring to potential operational disruptions.
Ver.di Demands 8.2 Percent Wage Increase
The strike is a result of an ongoing tariff dispute in German seaports. The employers’ side recently offered a wage increase of 5.1% over an 18-month contract period, an offer overwhelmingly rejected by employees. Ver.di is demanding an 8.2% increase over a one-year period.
On Friday morning, ver.di called on employees from all companies to demonstrate through the Port of Hamburg, starting at the Burchardkai Terminal. Despite the rainy weather, many workers gathered to express their dissatisfaction with the current state of negotiations.
Union: “We Want to Send a Clear Message”
André Kretschmer, ver.di’s regional operations manager, told NDR 90.3 that workers are very unhappy with the employers’ current offer. “The colleagues are not striking for the sake of striking, but because they want to send a clear message to the employer that the offer is not sufficient,” he stated.
Multiple Areas in Hamburg Port Affected
According to ver.di’s call, port workers from more than a dozen companies were expected to strike, including employees of HHLA Container Terminals Altenwerder, Burchardkai, and Tollerort, as well as those at Eurogate Container Terminal and Gesamthafenbetriebs-Gesellschaft.
Strikes also occurred at J. Müller in Brake and Bremen, and at EVAG in Emden, which primarily handles car transshipment. Workers in Bremerhaven and Wilhelmshaven also laid down their tools.
Employers Cannot Comprehend Warning Strike
The port companies, represented by the Central Association of German Seaport Operators (ZDS), reacted with great incomprehension to the strike call. Torben Seebold, a board member at Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) and the employers’ chief negotiator, had previously stated that they had reached the limits of their economic capabilities. A tariff agreement beyond this would jeopardize companies sustainably and, consequently, jobs in German seaports.
Port employees had previously staged a 24-hour strike on August 18, which slowed down and in some cases completely halted cargo handling. According to ver.di, approximately 11,000 employees in the ports are involved in the dispute.
Source: NDR.de
