Rotterdam dockers show the power of unity!

Biggest strike by lashers in Dutch history leads to major wins for our dockers

 Brussels, 20 October 2025 — The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) proudly applauds our affiliate FNV Havens and the dockers of the Port of Rotterdam for a historic and hard-won victory — a triumph of solidarity, perseverance and collective action.

The stand-out achievement

After the biggest strike ever mounted by lashers in the Netherlands, lashers engaged by International Lashing Services B.V. (ILS) and Matrans B.V. have secured a new collective agreement delivering:

• A wage increase of 17 % to 21 % over 2025, 2026 and 2027, include the automatic inflation compensation (2025: 2,58% and 2026: 2,7%) built into port labour agreements.
• Funding for training of young lashers: firm commitments to safer working conditions — reflecting recognition that lashing is demanding physical work that affects health and longevity.
• Funding for ‘responsible lashing’: measures to make the job of lasher more attractive for younger workers, helping ensure the sustainability of the industry.

Context and strike timeline

• The dispute erupted after months of stalled talks between FNV Havens and the companies (ILS & Matrans) to renew the collective labour agreement for lashers.
• On Wednesday 8 October 2025 at 15:15, some 700 lashers walked out in a 48-hour strike. Because lashers are essential to the loading/unloading of container ships (securing cargo, placing rods/crosses, etc.), the strike instantly affected the Port of Rotterdam’s container operations: no container ships could be processed while these workers were absent.
• On Friday 10 October the union members met, rejected the employers’ offer, and extended the strike indefinitely.
• The port authority reported major backlogs: for example, as of Monday 13 October, around 25 to 33 container-ships were waiting off the coast, unable to dock or unload because of lashing delays.
• On 13 October a court ordered the strike suspended from Monday through Friday to allow backlog clearing, while negotiations resumed. The court ruled that the strike may resume if no agreement is reached.
• On 17 October a tentative agreement was reached between FNV Havens and the employers. During a working stoppage on Friday morning from 07.00 – 09.00 union members voted to put the strike actions on hold and start the referendum so that the union members could vote about this result.

Why this matters

The significance of this victory goes beyond pay-cheques.

It underscores that lashers are essential workers in the global supply chain—without their work securing containers, Europe’s largest port can grind to a halt. The agreement also sets a clear benchmark: a 17–20% pay increase sends a strong message to port employers and the wider industry that manual maritime labour deserves respect and fair reward.

Beyond pay, the deal highlights the importance of safety and sustainability, making the job more attractive to younger generations while ensuring that those performing physically demanding work can retire in good health. Most importantly, it demonstrates the power of unity and collective action: this success was achieved because the workers stood together, the union supported them, and they remained steadfast throughout weeks of disruption and negotiations.

Congratulations and solidarity

ETF congratulates FNV Havens and every single lasher in Rotterdam who stood strong during this intense period. Your courage has produced real results — not just for yourselves, but for all transport workers in Europe.

As ETF Senior Policy Officer Bera Tommasi said: “The lashers of Rotterdam have made history. Their success inspires transport workers across Europe to organise, fight back and win fair conditions.” We also extend our thanks to allied unions, port workers, and supporters who stood shoulder-to-shoulder in solidarity. This is a collective win.

What’s next

The agreement now needs to be fully implemented, with employers honouring the commitments to pay rises, safe working conditions, and the recruitment of younger workers. In the coming days it will be submitted to a referendum, giving union members the opportunity to vote on and approve the agreement.

ETF and our affiliates will closely monitor the implementation of the agreement and continue to support FNV Havens in ensuring that all commitments are fully honoured. We also call on port employers, terminal operators, and the wider maritime industry to recognise this pivotal moment: manual maritime labour must be valued, protected, and invested in.