FNV Havens workers walked out on Thursday after employers failed to meet demands over job guarantees once two new Maasvlakte terminals become fully operational in Rotterdam. They were joined on the picket line by representatives from the ITF and ETF dockers’ teams as well as union members from BTB in Belgium, Ver.di in Germany and CGT in Le Havre, France.
FNV Havens secretary Niek Stam outlined the impact of increased automation and overcapacity at container terminals in Rotterdam: “Hundreds of jobs are being put risk because there just isn’t the industry growth in Rotterdam to sustain these new terminals as well as the existing ones; employers are trying to play musical chairs with our jobs!”
“Members are going to take action because they know that they have to stand up for their rights as hard working men and women. Our livelihoods and the future of our families and our communities rely on decent, secure jobs and those things are worth fighting for.”
The union wants a guarantee of job security for all employees who had a permanent job on 1 January 2015, until at least 2022.
Transport workers around the world showed their support for Rotterdam dockers by sharing and liking images and reports like this on social media.
Dockers in the Port of Rotterdam are on strike for 24 hours to protect their jobs! Find out more and show your support for workers, family and community:http://goo.gl/aLyNjf
Posted by International Transport Workers' Federation on Thursday, January 7, 2016
