Gothenburg port workers on strike (Volvo global shipments halted)

[kscarbel2]

Dagens Industri  /  November 15, 2016

As a result of failed negotiations, workers at the container port of Gothenburg went on strike on Tuesday.

For the business community, a major disruption is feared when the country's largest port comes to a halt and the union says that it is ready for a long conflict.

The strike began at 2:00pm on Tuesday afternoon, shutting down most container operations at the port.

"It is very serious that the activities that have an important function now periodically will be hamstrung without that we can do something. Large parts of the Swedish business community as well as carriers and port hit hard," says Henrik Kristensen, CEO of APM Terminals Gothenburg, which operates the container port.

AB Volvo and forestry companies Stora Enso and BillerudKorsnäs are some of the many companies that are now affected.

"Half of Sweden's container traffic passes through Gothenburg and large volumes of goods both for export and import now risk being delayed or have to be sent other routes to major additional costs for Swedish industry to be held in time," says Henrik Kristensen.

He argues that the port can not accept the Dockworker Union’s demands, as it would violate the collective agreement that it has with another union, the Transport Workers 'Union, and the Swedish Ports Employers Organization.

Swedish Ports supports APM and is also critical that there are no legal obstacles to the conflict in the prevailing industrial peace.

"The company does everything right and according to the agreement. I think it is a flaw in the legislation that this type of strikes can be considered legitimate," says Joakim Ärlund, president of Swedish Ports.

But Dockworkers Union asserts that it has the right.

"We have for over eight months tried to discuss and negotiate, but without any results. A strike is bad for everyone involved, but is now our only remaining option to gain support for important issues of principle for our members," said Erik Helgeson, board member of the Dockworkers Union.

He said union morale is high and does not rule out more strikes.

"A strike isn’t what we want, but if we have to, we will turn this into a long and complicated conflict."

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