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Gothenburg port traffic down 22pc due to APMT dockworkers' dispute
SWEDEN's port of Gothenburg suffered a 22 per cent year-on-year decline in container traffic in the first half of 2017 to 318,000 TEU. The decrease in volumes is attributed to an ongoing labour dispute between APM Terminals and dockworkers that has entered its second year with no resolution in sight.
The port authority said the row between the Maersk group's port unit and the local dockers union was responsible for the "unprecedented" fall, which has pushed traffic to "a level not seen since 2001," reported IHS Media.
"The consequences for Swedish trade are immense, as several services to key markets have been withdrawn, including direct services that are vital to both imports and exports," said chief executive of the Gothenburg port authority, Magnus Karestedt.
"A great deal of freight has been shifted from sea to road, investments are failing to materialise, and jobs have disappeared."
The dispute, which started in May 2016, centres on the demand of the local branch of Swedish Dockworkers' Union (SDU), for a separate collective agreement with APM Terminals to that which applies across the rest of the Swedish waterfront.
The SDU represents 85 per cent of the dockers, while the Transport Workers Union, which has an agreement with APM Terminals, accounts for the remainder of the work force.
The dispute has led to slowdowns, blockades, overtime bans, and strikes by dockers while APM Terminals launched a partial six-week lock out earlier in the year and announced 160 dismissals in June.
Repeated attempts by national mediators to resolve the dispute have failed, prompting the Swedish government to launch an enquiry to review the country's labour market rules.
"It is painfully clear how the dispute has harmed the port and industry. We have had an incredible rate of growth over the years here at the largest port in Scandinavia, and billions have been invested to serve Swedish trade optimally," Mr Karestedt said.
It is "unreasonable" that a group of dock workers can block trade for the entire country, Mr Karestedt said, adding that APM Terminals has agreed to all proposals suggested by the mediators while the union has rejected them.
The port authority said the row between the Maersk group's port unit and the local dockers union was responsible for the "unprecedented" fall, which has pushed traffic to "a level not seen since 2001," reported IHS Media.
"The consequences for Swedish trade are immense, as several services to key markets have been withdrawn, including direct services that are vital to both imports and exports," said chief executive of the Gothenburg port authority, Magnus Karestedt.
"A great deal of freight has been shifted from sea to road, investments are failing to materialise, and jobs have disappeared."
The dispute, which started in May 2016, centres on the demand of the local branch of Swedish Dockworkers' Union (SDU), for a separate collective agreement with APM Terminals to that which applies across the rest of the Swedish waterfront.
The SDU represents 85 per cent of the dockers, while the Transport Workers Union, which has an agreement with APM Terminals, accounts for the remainder of the work force.
The dispute has led to slowdowns, blockades, overtime bans, and strikes by dockers while APM Terminals launched a partial six-week lock out earlier in the year and announced 160 dismissals in June.
Repeated attempts by national mediators to resolve the dispute have failed, prompting the Swedish government to launch an enquiry to review the country's labour market rules.
"It is painfully clear how the dispute has harmed the port and industry. We have had an incredible rate of growth over the years here at the largest port in Scandinavia, and billions have been invested to serve Swedish trade optimally," Mr Karestedt said.
It is "unreasonable" that a group of dock workers can block trade for the entire country, Mr Karestedt said, adding that APM Terminals has agreed to all proposals suggested by the mediators while the union has rejected them.
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