On Thursday morning, dock workers in Germany gave up their jobs to demand a higher salary. According to the union, some 4,000 employees had gathered in Hamburg, some of whom came with fireworks and smoke pots. Police threatened to cancel the event.
The office building of the BLG Logstics Group in Bremen was previously damaged after the failed fourth round of tariff negotiations. In addition to the ports in Hamburg and Bremen, those in Emden, Bremerhaven, Wilhelmshaven and Brake were also affected by the warning strikes. It was the second warning strike in three weeks.
Demand compensation for inflation and higher hourly wages
The background to this is the wage negotiations between the Central Association of German Seaport Companies (ZDS) and the Verdi union for about 12,000 employees. In traditional wage negotiations, these are no longer that far apart, but balancing inflation is a challenge. The ZDS offers a one-off compensation of 1000 euros in full container companies and 500 euros in conventional companies, which the union does not have enough for. “We need a big gulp of the bottle (…). We have to stop the inflation monster,” said negotiator Maya Schwiegershausen-Güth. Inflation in Germany was 7.9 percent in May.
The union also demanded an hourly wage that is 1.20 euros higher and an annual fee that is 1,200 euros higher for full container operations. The ZDS already agreed, although the hourly wage in car handling could be a bit lower.
Shipping company reacted irritated
The Hamburg shipping company Hapag-Lloyd reacted angrily to the strike, which would have ended on Friday. “Every day that a ship is stationary costs us money, of course, and annoys customers, consumers, seafarers and also our shore staff,” said a spokesperson. The protests are said to add to the extremely tense situation and damage the reputation of the port. He was referring to the delays caused by the corona pandemic. According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, 15 container ships would be waiting for customs clearance in Hamburg or Bremerhaven on Tuesday.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
