Hundreds of dockworkers in Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Zeeland are set to walk out on Friday 4 September, according to *Nieuwsblad Transport* (NT). The strike organised by FNV Havens is expected to bring a large part of the Port of Rotterdam to a standstill, resulting in delays to containers and shipments.
According to an earlier announcement by FNV Havens, no ships will be handled in a large part of the Port of Rotterdam between 11.15 and 19.00 on the day of the strike. The issue is political: the trade union wants the government to withdraw the cuts to unemployment benefits (WW) and the Work and Income (Disability) Act (WIA), NT reports. As well as Rotterdam, members in the ports of Amsterdam and Zeeland are also taking part.
No ships will be handled between 11.15 and 19.00
Formally, the work stoppage lasts less than eight hours. However, the operational impact is greater than that timeframe would suggest. Loading, unloading, securing, towing and checking cargo will come to a standstill at the participating companies during the action.
Furthermore, delays in container liner shipping often persist for days. Ships wait for a berth, terminals fall behind schedule, and the planning of hinterland transport by lorry, train and inland waterway is consequently disrupted.
Which ports and companies will be affected?
In Rotterdam, FNV Havens has members at terminal operators such as ECT and APMTII, as well as at lashing companies ILS and Matrans. It is precisely these companies that play a key role in container handling. Lashing crews secure containers on board; without their work, seagoing vessels cannot set sail safely.
Outside Rotterdam, the membership base is smaller, but strikes are taking place there too. In Amsterdam, this includes the HES Bulk Terminal and the towage company Svitzer; in Zeeland, it includes the Vopak tank terminal in Vlissingen and Verbrugge Terminals in Vlissingen and Terneuzen. This means the industrial action affects not only containers, but also bulk cargo, tank storage and break bulk.
Why is FNV Havens on strike?
The strike is not directed against port employers, but against the government. According to NT, FNV Havens is demanding that the cuts to the WW (unemployment benefit) and the WIA (work incapacity scheme) be scrapped. This is the latest in a series of industrial actions: earlier this year, port workers had already announced their intention to strike for at least five days in protest against the government’s plans regarding social security.
Employers: why not at the Malieveld?
According to NT, port employers are wondering why the strikers are not voicing their discontent in The Hague, on the Malieveld, instead of bringing the port to a standstill. The trade union says it is not interested in such suggestions. For employers, the timing is particularly bitter: the action is affecting companies that are not themselves parties to the dispute between the union and the government.
A rail strike is also looming on 9 September
The port action is not an isolated incident. FNV Spoor, which represents DB Cargo employees, and FNV Streek- en Stadsvervoer previously announced they would go on strike on 9 September. Containers delayed by the port strike may therefore face further disruption a few days later in hinterland rail transport. This means that, in early September, disruptions are likely to occur simultaneously at several points along the supply chain.
Consequences for importers and exporters
Do you have shipments due to pass through Rotterdam, Amsterdam or the ports of Zeeland around Friday 4 September? If so, please allow for delays. Ships may moor or depart later, cut-off times for export containers may shift, and import containers may be released later. You can read more about this process on the container handling page.
Also, be aware of demurrage and detention: if a container remains at the terminal for longer than expected or is collected later than planned, additional costs may arise. Check who bears the risk of delay according to the agreed delivery terms; you can find an overview on the Incoterms page.
For time-critical cargo, it may be worth bringing forward cut-off times, allowing extra time in pre- and post-carriage, or temporarily switching to express air freight. TOP is monitoring the strike closely and will inform customers as soon as more is known about the impact on terminals and sailing schedules. Are you unsure about an ongoing consignment? Please get in touch in good time, and we’ll work together to find the best solution.
…seagoing vessels cannot set sail safely without lashing operatives? Lashing operatives secure containers on board. During last year’s lashing operatives’ strike, a large part of the Port of Rotterdam came to a standstill as a result, even though the profession itself is relatively small.
