After a 48-hour strike, negotiations between German trade union ver.di and the Central Association of German Seaport Operators (ZDS) have resumed following a renewed warning strike at German seaports.

The labour dispute remains unresolved after disagreements reported last month.

According to ver.di, both parties returned to the negotiating table on 9 September for a fourth round of talks in Hamburg after employers proposed a new negotiation date.

The union said employees had largely rejected the offer presented during the third round of negotiations. ZDS has offered a wage increase of 5.1%, with a minimum rise of €1.20 per hour over an 18-month term. Ver.di continues to seek an increase of 8.2%, with a minimum rise of €2.50 per hour and a 12-month agreement.

The latest strike began on 2 September and continued for 48 hours.

During the stoppage, container terminals suspended operations, while container deliveries, pick-ups and transhipment activities were brought to a halt, causing delays in vessel handling.

Ports are continuing to deal with the effects of the disruption. In Bremerhaven, yard occupancy reached 88% after the strikes, while the terminal line-up remains affected.

In Hamburg, yard utilisation was also reported as high, and the port expected further delays as the backlog is cleared.

In its latest operational update, Hapag-Lloyd noted that further strike action remains possible until an agreement is reached.

A ripple effect impacted other ports in the region, including the ports of Antwerp, Le Havre and Rotterdam, which itself was also impacted by a separate strike on 4 September.