Germany’s Ver.di Union Recommends Their Members Accept New Wage Offer
If this new wage offer is accepted, it would resolve a prolonged wage dispute that has caused significant disruptions at major German ports (ie. Hamburg, Emden, Bremen, etc..).
The fifth round of negotiations between ver.di and the Central Association of German Seaport Operators (ZDS) concluded with an improved proposal. The offer includes a tax-free inflation compensation bonus, an hourly wage increase starting October 1, and a higher shift and holiay bonuses.
Members will conduct a survey and a final decision at a meeting on September 27th.
New Year, New Alliance Rebrand
THE Alliance is rebranding to Premier Alliance (PA), starting February 2025, when the 2M alliance between MSC and Maersk is set to dissolve. At the same time, Hapag-Lloyd will exit THE Alliance to form the Gemini Cooperation with Maersk.
ONE, Yang Ming, and HMM – the remaining THE Alliance members – will start anew as the Premier Alliance and enter into a slot-sharing arrangement with MSC for the Asia-Europe routes.
The Premier Alliance carriers revealed, as the JOC reports, their partnership will span mainline services on major East-West trade routes: from Asia to the North America West Coast, Asia to the North America East Coast, Asia to the Mediterranean, Asia to Northern Europe, and Asia to the Middle East.