A motion to this effect was adopted by the ITF’s Fair Practices Committee at the ITF meeting in Perth, Australia two weeks ago. No involvement of seafarers' unions will be needed, it was agreed.

The motion had been entered by Dutch dockers’ union FNV Havens against the backdrop of its dispute with Rotterdam World Gateway (RWG). After the Maasvlakte II-based automated terminal continued to decline negotiating a collective labour contract, the Dutch unions decided to shift the issue from DP World to the terminal’s shipping line shareholders, APL, MOL, HMM and CMA-CGM.

Transport trade unions have established how shipping lines are becoming more and more involved in the daily marine terminal business, especially when they are a shareholder, Niek Stam, National Secretary of FNV Havens, told WorldCargo News.

“But at the same time, they are not majority shareholders. Therefore Ver.di of Germany understandably aired its concerns that the way in which RWG is owned and operated might be a model for future marine terminals. With the unconditional support from both the port trade unions and the seafarers’ unions, it has become evident that the way dockers' unions and terminal operators are doing business has to change.”

Meanwhile, the Dutch unions and RWG are discussing a collective labour contract, Stam added. “There is a concept agreement in place and there are regular contacts with RWG director Lugthart. As RWG’s Counsel is screening unions’ amendments, our people are working on certain technicalities also. Lugthart has stressed that a true contract could be concluded before the big ILWU trade unions’ assembly on 5 June.”

The unions’ rank and file are known to be sceptical, but Rotterdam World Gateway confirmed that it is having informal talks with the unions. No scheduled official opening date was given.

The text of the FNV Havens motion adopted by ITF Fair Practices Committee is as follows: "Shipping lines are becoming more and more involved in the daily business of loading and/or unloading ships, especially because they more often becoming shareholders of terminal operations. "The way dockers unions' and terminal operators are doing business has to change. Dockers unions should be able to negotiate directly with shipping lines without intervention of seafarers unions. "Therefore the FPC agrees that in the direct future dockers' unions can and will contact shipping lines directly in case this is useful or necessary for CBA-negotiations for terminal contracts." FNV Havens, Perth, Australia 11 May 2015.