Mixed fortunes in Dutch dock labour scheme disputes

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In November 1997, prolonged negotiations finally led to a solution for the employees of the bankrupt "labour pool" in the Amsterdam dockyard. Meanwhile, in Rotterdam, labour pool members are threatening to take new industrial action if no solution is found.

A series of lengthy negotiations have resulted in a solution for the employees of the bankrupt "labour pool" - the alliance of dock companies that supplies workers depending on the demand for labour - in the Amsterdam dockyard (NL9710140N). A small majority of the pool's employees have voted in favour of a draft reorganisation plan proposed by the transport unions. All 315 employees of the recently bankrupt pool will be offered a programme consisting of two days of work and three days of training a week for an 18-month period. It is expected that after the first six months, the 100 best-trained and most versatile employees will acquire a position in a new labour pool. Those who remain will need to seek jobs outside the dockyard.

This combination of work and training will be organised by a foundation that will be administered by the transport trade unions and, for at least the first phase, the regional employment office. Amsterdam harbour employers have guaranteed that they will commission 17,500 days of work for the first year and 20,000 for the next.

On 26 November 1997, 14 out of 25 union activists voted against the programme. Union members now have to decide in a referendum whether they will accept the programme in its final form or not.

While the draft agreement was being reached in Amsterdam, new labour pool disputes threatened to erupt in Rotterdam. Some 200 workers in the Rotterdam dockyard threatened to take industrial action unless their representatives were reinstated in the negotiations regarding the reorganisation of the Rotterdam pool. The representatives had left the delegation following a dispute over the bargaining agenda. They had wished to carry out discussions on the basis of the bargaining principles established at the meeting of Vervoersbond FNV, the transport workers' union affiliated to the Federation of Dutch Trade Unions (FNV). These included additional cooperation with the Amsterdam pool and full retention of pay. The official union delegation wished only to discuss problems relating to the Rotterdam pool.

On 19 November, the representatives called a meeting of union members to discuss the dispute. However, this meeting was not sanctioned by union officials. A large majority voted in favour of reinstating the original delegation and maintaining the original bargaining principles. After the meeting, some 150 employees briefly occupied the regional office of Vervoersbond FNV.

On 21 November, pool employees blocked the gates of the European Combined Terminals (ECT), the largest container terminal in the Port of Rotterdam). On 24 November, ECT successfully petitioned the Rotterdam court to issue a ban on future blockades.