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| More labor problems in port of Rotterdam |
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(Rotterdam,
The Netherlands, November 4, 2004)… The world's biggest port is bracing for the third strike in six weeks by dockworkers. The action, scheduled for next Tuesday to protect government plans to cut welfare benefits and pensions, would also shut down the ports of Amsterdam and Zeeland.
The biggest disruption is expected at the container handling terminals, including ECT, which handles nearly 70 percent of the port's 8 million TEUs-a-year traffic. The strike will also affect bulk carriers and freight ferries in Rotterdam and Amsterdam, but is not expected to halt work on tankers in Rotterdam, Europe's biggest oil port.
The two previous 24-hour strikes in Rotterdam resulted in a backlog of around 15,000 containers and disrupted the sailing schedules of more than 20 containerships.
Rotterdam dockworkers have warned they will also stage a series of strikes if the European Union revives controversial plans to deregulate port services.
Additional Trade Alerts will be issued if there are any new developments.
For more information, please call (905-882-4880) Carlos Torres, Manager – Transportation Consulting Services.
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