Update: 06.10.2026
German port employers and the Verdi trade union have agreed a new collective labour deal covering workers at the country’s seaports.
According to a press release by the union, hourly wages will increase by 3.4% retroactively from August under the new agreement, and the contract will run for one year.
The settlement follows a series of labour disputes that affected operations during the latest round of negotiations.
Talks began in July in Bremen and covered around 11,000 employees across the ports of Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Wilhelmshaven, Bremen, Brake and Emden. Four negotiating rounds were held before the parties reached an agreement.
Initial industrial action took place across all six seaports in August, followed by a walkout by port workers in Hamburg during September.
The agreement brings the latest wage negotiations to a close after months of discussions and labour action at Germany’s key maritime gateways.
Original article: 21.09.2026
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.
