German Seaports Halted by Daylong Ver.di Warning Strike
Six ports stopped as the union seeks 8.2 percent against an employer offer of 5.1
A daylong strike called by Germany's main service union, Ver.di, brought most container and cargo operations at six seaports to a standstill, with full work resumption expected on Wednesday.
The action encompassed Germany's three largest seaports, Hamburg, Bremerhaven and Wilhelmshaven, plus the regional ports of Bremen, Emden and Brake. Targeted facilities included Hamburg container terminals, the EUROGATE Container Terminal in Bremerhaven, auto terminals and North Sea Terminal. Eurogate, HHLA, BLG and J Müller Weser were among the companies directly impacted.
Ver.di mobilised its 11,000 members at container terminals and key port positions, demanding fairer wages and resumed negotiations. The strike commenced on Monday night, August 17, and expanded with day shifts on Tuesday. Approximately 2,100 Ver.di members gathered for demonstrations at Hamburg, Germany's largest port.
The union calls the action a warning strike. The employers' association ZDS labels it disproportionate and the union's reaction incomprehensible.
The distance between the two positions is narrower on headline pay than on structure. ZDS has proposed a 5.1 percent increase in the basic hourly wage, plus increases to vacation pay and bonuses at major container operations in 2027, and characterises the offer as far-reaching relative to other economic sectors. Ver.di is demanding an 8.2 percent increase with a €2.50 minimum hourly rate for lower wage groups.
Contract duration remains the other point of contention. Ver.di seeks a 12-month agreement, while ZDS has proposed 19 months, noting that average German contracts exceed 25 months. Ver.di has responded that "The employees want a better offer, and they deserve it," noting that members have overwhelmingly rejected the current offers.
The action rekindled concerns from the 2024 round of negotiations, which produced escalating job actions and substantial port backlogs. Port officials expect backlogs to clear quickly, though Hapag-Lloyd has warned customers of potential delays.
Negotiations resume in Hamburg on August 24 and 25.
