SMIT International of the
Netherlands is once more facing strike action by its tugboat employees at
Rotterdam.
Negotiations held on Saturday, by the invite of the company, have broken
down and the union is threatening strike action by Wednesday 21st.
SMIT describes the union stance as 'incomprehensible' and that they have
sought to meet the union's demands.
SMIT say that the unions wanted 8 percent increases in wages, and that
this has been agreed, albeit 4 percent each year for two years. The unions
wanted a 2000 Euro bonus, SMIT say they have agreed to this. On conditions
and benefits for older workers over 60, the company says it had reached
agreement with most of the conditions.
Nevertheless, the company says, the unions has declared their demands
have not been met and the strike deadline is still on for Wednesday. Smit
say they cannot understand the union's stance, but nevertheless are still
open to talking with them.
In 2005 SMIT tugboat workers went on strike for two 12 hour periods at
Rotterdam again after breakdowns over collective bargaining agreements.
Recently SMIT announced (Feb 7th) that they had made profits of 75 million
euros in 2006, double what they made the previous year. It was indeed a
case of ill winds that would blow nobody any good, they certainly did for
SMIT as high winds were attributed to higher than expected activity
at the Dutch port and at Antwerp. |
