Dutch dock talks end with union leaders accepting job security till 2020
LEADERS of Rotterdam dockers unions, the FNV and CNV Vakmensen, will recommend that members accept employers' offer of job security until July 1, 2020, said a port authority statement.
"Furthermore, the Port Senior Fit Scheme will be extended to employees aged 60 years and that 120 employees of ailing Rotterdam Port Services (RPS) will be offered a customised solution," said the statement.
The companies and the Port Authority have come to mutual agreements on the financing of the EUR20 million (US$22.2 million) to EUR30 million package.
Container companies involved in the consultations are ECT, APM Terminals, RWG, Matrans, ILS and Unilash.
"The trade unions will present the outcome of the negotiations to their members with favourable advice. Due to the holiday period, it will take until the second half of August to complete the member consultations," said the port authority.
Six months ago, proposals from employers were rejected by the unions, but two things have changed. The most important one is that a custom solution has been found for the 120 employees of RPS, a company that performs agency work especially for container companies.
RPS is near bankrupt and unable to provide employees job security.
The trade unions insisted that a solution would be presented for the employees of RPS at the time the job security agreement was concluded.
In recent months, an inventory was made of what such a solution would be and what costs is would involve. The Port of Rotterdam Authority and the shareholder of RPS make the funds available to provide.
Also recent times has shown that container industry growth cannot be taken for granted with port throughput falling 0.5 per cent and year-to-date figures also showing declines.
The Port Senior Fit Scheme will now apply to employees who were born between 1952 and 1956. As of the age of 60, they will now be able to work 60 per cent at a salary of 95 per cent and 100 per cent pension accrual, but they must retire at 65.
Employers will hire 3,700 people. New, highly automated terminals on Maasvlakte 2 have increased concern that the shift of cargo from the existing terminals to the new ones would cause a loss of jobs at terminals on Maasvlakte 1.
Estimates suggest a possible job loss of 200 to 800 jobs until 2020. In the same period, several hundred people will also retire.
LEADERS of Rotterdam dockers unions, the FNV and CNV Vakmensen, will recommend that members accept employers' offer of job security until July 1, 2020, said a port authority statement.
"Furthermore, the Port Senior Fit Scheme will be extended to employees aged 60 years and that 120 employees of ailing Rotterdam Port Services (RPS) will be offered a customised solution," said the statement.
The companies and the Port Authority have come to mutual agreements on the financing of the EUR20 million (US$22.2 million) to EUR30 million package.
Container companies involved in the consultations are ECT, APM Terminals, RWG, Matrans, ILS and Unilash.
"The trade unions will present the outcome of the negotiations to their members with favourable advice. Due to the holiday period, it will take until the second half of August to complete the member consultations," said the port authority.
Six months ago, proposals from employers were rejected by the unions, but two things have changed. The most important one is that a custom solution has been found for the 120 employees of RPS, a company that performs agency work especially for container companies.
RPS is near bankrupt and unable to provide employees job security.
The trade unions insisted that a solution would be presented for the employees of RPS at the time the job security agreement was concluded.
In recent months, an inventory was made of what such a solution would be and what costs is would involve. The Port of Rotterdam Authority and the shareholder of RPS make the funds available to provide.
Also recent times has shown that container industry growth cannot be taken for granted with port throughput falling 0.5 per cent and year-to-date figures also showing declines.
The Port Senior Fit Scheme will now apply to employees who were born between 1952 and 1956. As of the age of 60, they will now be able to work 60 per cent at a salary of 95 per cent and 100 per cent pension accrual, but they must retire at 65.
Employers will hire 3,700 people. New, highly automated terminals on Maasvlakte 2 have increased concern that the shift of cargo from the existing terminals to the new ones would cause a loss of jobs at terminals on Maasvlakte 1.
Estimates suggest a possible job loss of 200 to 800 jobs until 2020. In the same period, several hundred people will also retire.