Trade unions FNV and CNV have confirmed that the industrial action will take place between 11:15 and 19:00 local time, affecting the second part of the day shift and the beginning of the evening shift.
During the strike period, workers taking part have been called on not to handle vessels. According to the unions, this covers activities including loading and unloading cargo, securing loads, towing vessels and checking cargo. CNV says work at port companies in the three regions is therefore expected to come largely to a standstill during the action.
Strike remains on despite budget developments
The action is going ahead despite leaked documents ahead of the Dutch government’s Prinsjesdag budget announcement indicating that some proposed cuts to social-security benefits could be reduced, postponed or withdrawn.
The unions are protesting against government plans affecting the Netherlands’ unemployment and disability benefit systems, known as WW and WIA. FNV originally called the strike as part of its campaign against proposed social-security savings amounting to €6.5 billion.
CNV said in its latest instructions to members that the planned reductions had not been taken off the table sufficiently to halt the campaign, and confirmed on 31 August that the 4 September strike would proceed.
The leaked budget documents reported this week suggest that the government is now planning to soften some of the proposed changes, including reducing or delaying cuts affecting unemployment and disability benefits. However, this has not resulted in the port strike being cancelled.
Work due to resume at 19:00
Workers participating in the strike are being told to shut down their activities safely by 11:15 before leaving their workplaces. A central strike gathering will take place at Landtong De Punt in Rozenburg, in the Rotterdam port area, while workers in Amsterdam and Zeeland are also being called on to stop work.
The strike officially ends at 19:00, after which workers are expected to return to their workplaces and operations can begin resuming.
