Strike threat at APM Terminals Rotterdam

News 30 Jan 2012 by WCN Editorial

APMT Rotterdam terminal, which has a payroll of around 700, is facing industrial action, following the expiration of a trade unions’ ultimatum

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Compensation for the future higher State retirement age was the key sticking point of a new collective agreement. Agreement had been reached on most other elements of the new two-year contract for the 3.5M TEU/year container terminal at the Maasvlakte 1.

The agreement currently being negotiated is to cover the October 2011–October 2013 period. Compensating the loss of State old age pension (OAP), which is being raised from 65 to 67 for all employees in the Netherlands from the year 2025, is the key reason the for the current stalemate.

The company’s latest package included a 5.5% pay rise for each of the two years. The unions had asked for 6% and agreement on this point is not far away.

The new State OAP age of 67 (from 2025) is later than the retirement age in most companies’ pension contracts, which is usually 63 or 65. Hence unions want employers to plug the gap.

APMT Rotterdam has advised that agreement had been reached on almost all other elements. This includes a job guarantee for all 700 staff at the Maasvlakte-1 facility through the year 2015.

The Maasvlakte-2 terminal currently under construction will require relatively fewer staff in view of the high level of automation. “Nonetheless the volumes of our customers are expected to grow to such an extent that the existing (Maasvlakte 1) terminal should be able to focus on continuity,” APMT stated. It added that it is not considering a reduction of the current terminal’s container handling capacity.