This week it is expected that the backlog of shipping that was created in Northern Europe due to a strike by container lashers in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and a slowdown by Belgian marine pilots will somewhat ease. Unions representing the container lashers working at Rotterdam’s main container terminals report that they have reached a settlement over wages, while the Belgian pilots continue to work after pausing their job action.
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Members of the unions representing the container lashers voted overwhelmingly to suspend the strike after news was reached of a tentative agreement. The lashers had threatened to resume their strike if there was no progress in the negotiations.
Union leaders reported they won an agreement that called for 17 to 20 percent wage increases over the next three years, with automatic inflation compensation in 2025 and 2026. The employers also would establish two funds to improve working conditions. A final vote on the contract is expected to happen within the next three weeks.
The Port of Rotterdam said last Monday that 33 vessels, including 15 deep-sea containerships, were waiting in the anchorages. Container movements had been suspended because the trained workers are required to release and secure the containers during port operations.
A larger backlog developed in Belgium, where the sea pilots began a job slowdown on 5 October to protest government pensions reforms. By Wednesday, 15 October, the reports said as many as 200 vessels were being delayed at Antwerp, as well as Zeebrugge and Ghent. S&P Global Commodities reported that deliveries of jet fuel and diesel for Northern Europe handled at Antwerp were being impacted. Approximately 20 containerships had also bypassed scheduled calls at terminals in Antwerp due to the job action according to other media reports.
While the unions said they would suspend the slowdown, some pilots are reportedly still taking their maximum rest period of 12 hours. The backlog of ships was declining, with reports that it was down to 116 on Thursday but could have been cleared quicker if all the pilots had returned to normal work schedules. Belgian officials are saying they are confident the backlog can be fully cleared by Monday, 20 October.
However, the unions insist that they see progress from the government on their demands regarding the pension reforms. In June, a framework had been agreed upon with a target of completing all the terms by November. The unions have said they would resume job actions at the end of next week, on 24 October, if the government has not engaged in serious discussions about pensions for the pilots and their demand that the pilots receive similar treatment to other government employees.