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Action over port privatisation plans in Germany
11 January 2007
Port workers in Germany are threatening industrial action over plans to privatise part of a major port.
Dockers in the port of Hamburg will refuse to work overtime from 1 February unless the city’s local authority scraps plans to sell off half of Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA), the company that currently runs the port.
The workers, represented by ITF affiliate Verdi, believe that many employees will lose their jobs as a result of the sell-off. They also fear that the new owner would be unlikely to remain a member of the employers’ association and would no longer pay workers the nationally negotiated wages.
Thomas Mendrzik, Vice-Chairman of the Works Council of the HHLA Corporate Group and Verdi representative commented: “There is only one negotiated wage for dock workers in Germany and HHLA has always set the standard. This move could change working conditions for the worse not only for HHLA workers in the first instance, but also ultimately for all dock workers in Germany.”
Verdi’s action will go ahead if the outcome of talks between the city authority and members of HHLA, due to take place later this month, fails to see the plans overturned.
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