Strike Warning by Verdi Results in Large Ships Being Unable to Enter Port of Hamburg
Due to a warning strike from the Verdi trade union, large ships are no longer allowed to enter or leave the Port of Hamburg. The port authority, HPA, has revealed that ships that need pilotage have been affected by this closure since Wednesday morning. In response to enquiries, it was also confirmed that Verdi has called for a warning strike for port administration employees from Wednesday 5.30 pm until Friday 6.00 am. The "Hamburger Abendblatt" initially reported this.
The HPA spokesperson clarified that the Elbe will be closed for ships needing a pilot from around 10 am today until further notice because of the predicted extensive limitations caused by the warning strikes announcement. All ships with a 90-meter length or a width of 13 meters and above will be impacted. The reason for this closure is that pilot transfer boats are expected to participate in a strike, consequently, pilots will not be able to access the larger ships.
Based on the latest update, approximately 18 vessels en route to Hamburg are impacted by the shutdown. However, it's a challenge to determine precisely how many departing ships are influenced as they're obligated to report their status only a few hours before departure, the spokesperson clarified.
There's an agreement with Verdi for any emergencies that may arise. The HPA shared details that certain areas like locks, movable bridges, and barrages will experience significant limitations. Even the old Elbe tunnel in St. Pauli will be affected. As expected, the strike measures are scheduled until Friday morning, which will hinder normal operations, and some facilities may even have to close entirely. Despite this, protection against floods and emergency measures for major bridges are still guaranteed. The only bridges that will be impossible to open are the Este bascule bridge and the Cranz roller bridge.
Verdi, a trade union, has announced a full-day strike for all public service employees and trainees in Hamburg on Thursday. The union reports that along with HPA employees, thousands more workers from hospitals, Elbkinder daycare centers, city cleaning services, and the State Opera will participate in the strike. The demonstrators will convene at Rathausmarkt at 9:00 am for a rally before marching through the city center to the union building at Besenbinderhof. The event will conclude with a final rally.
The workers are organizing a strike to make their requests more apparent before the next round of talks in Potsdam on March 27-29. The union is asking for a raise of 10.5% or a minimum of 500 euros per month for the 2.5 million people employed within the federal and local governments across Germany. Currently, the employers are only offering a 5% increase, which will be paid in two installments, and a one-time payment totaling 2,500 euros.
