Unionised dockworkers in Germany have begun voting on whether to authorise indefinite strike action following the rejection of the latest pay proposal from terminal employers.
The ballot, organised by the United Services Union (Verdi), opened on 18 September and will continue until 1 October. Results are scheduled to be counted on 2 October.
According to Verdi, indefinite strike action can proceed only if at least 75% of participating members support both the rejection of the offer and the initiation of prolonged industrial action.
The latest offer from the Central Association of German Seaport Companies (ZDS) was rejected by 64.7% of those who voted. Verdi said 3,578 employees opposed the proposal out of more than 5,500 workers who took part in the vote.
Verdi is seeking an 8.2% wage increase over a period of 12 months. The employers' offer consists of a 3.4% increase in hourly wages, applied retroactively, together with an additional €200 in holiday pay and a €416 allowance for employees working in container handling.
Ahead of the ballot, ZDS called for what it described as “reason and proportionality”.
ZDS negotiator Torben Seebold said an indefinite strike would be disproportionate given Germany's economic situation and warned that the effects of a prolonged labour dispute would extend beyond port operations.
The employers' association also highlighted competition among European ports, stating that any movement of cargo to locations such as Rotterdam or Antwerp-Bruges could place pressure on value creation and employment in Germany.
