Dockers rally to protect jobs in Rotterdam
Longshore & Shipping News
Santa supports Rotterdam dockworkers
Dockers from across Europe are joining their
brothers and sisters at a rally in Rotterdam today (Wednesday 17 December) to
protest against the impact of developments in the container sector at the port
there. ITF-affiliated union FNV Havens is concerned over the potential loss of
employment and reduced working conditions as a result of an increase in automation
and the expansion in capacity from Rotterdam Gateway and the construction of
Maasvlakte II.
Rotterdam World Gateway (RWG) is a joint venture
of four shipping lines and global network giant Dubai Ports World.
National secretary of FNV ports in the
Netherlands, Niek Stam commented: “When taking decisions on port
expansion neither the administration nor the port authority in Rotterdam has
taken into account the impact it could have on employment, on normal working
families in this city.
“We want to work with our employers and port authority to try and find
joint answers to the problems workers are facing such as the threat of losing
jobs and overcapacity. But management just don’t seem to be interested. Our
priority is dialogue and all parties moving forward positively together.
Another issue is to secure a collective bargaining agreement for workers at RWG
to secure a level playing field in the industry. That’s why we’re holding this
rally.”
Speaking on the international support for
Rotterdam dockers, ETF dockers’ section chair Terje Samuelsen added: “Our
union members worldwide are standing together on this because that’s the only
way to defend the rights, jobs and pride of dockworkers.”
The rally will start at 10.30 GMT from
Willemskade Rotterdam to Wilhelminaplein (opposite side of the Erasmusbridge)
and will end at 14.00 GMT.
See more pictures of today’s rally at this ITF
link. https://www.flickr.com/photos/itf/sets/72157649394102110/
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