German seaport workers have rejected the latest wage offer from employers, raising the prospect of renewed industrial action at major ports including Hamburg, Bremerhaven and Wilhelmshaven.
The latest development follows weeks of negotiations between the United Services Trade Union (ver.di) and the Central Association of German Seaport Operators (ZDS) over a new collective agreement covering around 11,000 port workers.
According to ZDS, a majority of ver.di members rejected the employers’ improved offer following an internal consultation process.
The employers’ association said on 1 September that the possibility of renewed strikes is now being raised by the union.
“The threat of renewed strikes is disproportionate in this context,” ZDS said, calling on ver.di to continue working towards a negotiated settlement.
Warning strike at six German seaports may disrupt operations
Latest offer rejected
The latest proposal followed intensive negotiations between the two sides on 24 and 25 August in Hamburg.
ZDS presented an improved package that included a 5.1% increase in collectively agreed wages, alongside a guaranteed hourly wage increase of €1.20 across all wage groups.
The proposal also included a €150 increase in holiday pay and a €616 increase in the annual allowance for employees working in the container sector. The proposed agreement would run for 18 months.
However, port workers subsequently rejected the package during ver.di’s consultation process.
The dispute covers employees at port companies in Hamburg, Bremen, Bremerhaven, Emden, Brake and Wilhelmshaven.
Warning strike preceded latest negotiations
The latest negotiations followed a 24-hour warning strike on 18 August that affected Germany’s major North Sea ports.
Workers took industrial action at Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Bremen, Wilhelmshaven, Emden and Brake after rejecting an earlier offer from employers.
Around 5,000 employees participated in the action, according to ver.di.
The strike disrupted cargo handling operations and prompted the two sides to return to negotiations in Hamburg on 24 and 25 August.
Those talks resulted in the revised offer announced on 26 August, but its rejection has left the wage dispute unresolved.
No dates for further strike action have been announced so far.
The possibility of renewed industrial action therefore remains dependent on the next steps taken by ver.di and the outcome of further negotiations with ZDS.
Update: New warning strikes begin at German ports
German port workers launched a new round of warning strikes on 2 September after rejecting the employers’ latest wage offer.
The industrial action affects Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Bremen, Wilhelmshaven, Emden and Brake.
In Hamburg, ver.di called a 48-hour warning strike beginning with the late shift on Wednesday. The action covers more than a dozen port companies, including HHLA’s container terminals Altenwerder, Burchardkai and Tollerort, as well as the Eurogate container terminal.
Further warning strikes were also called in Bremen and Lower Saxony, with industrial action affecting Bremerhaven, Wilhelmshaven, Brake and Emden.
The renewed action marks a significant escalation of the wage dispute following the rejection of the improved employer offer and comes after the previous 24-hour warning strike in August.
Update – 3 September:
The previously announced warning strikes are now underway at Germany’s major seaports. In Hamburg, the 48-hour action began with the Wednesday night shift, affecting more than a dozen port businesses, including HHLA’s container terminals Altenwerder, Burchardkai and Tollerort, as well as the Eurogate container terminal. The industrial action also covers Bremen, Bremerhaven, Wilhelmshaven, Emden and Brake and is scheduled to continue through Friday.
