The number of port strikes around the world has been growing over the past year, causing headaches for many parties. The number of protests and strikes affecting port operations quadrupled last year to 38 incidents. From trucker stoppages in South Korea to dock strikes in Britain, worker shortages have prompted shipping lines to divert or delay cargoes globally.
According to Nick Rowe, NorthStandard’s head of strike & delay, the cost of living crisis had come to a head with port strikes making headlines in the US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Finland, Israel and Argentina already this year.
Rowe said: “The fundamental point is there is a global cost of living crisis. Inflation has outstripped wages, and it has not been so stark for many years, and there is potential for labor unrest to disrupt ports in many places.”
The ripples of the industrial action at quaysides on multiple continents are also being felt by the world’s 1.5 mln seafarers. After years of being kept at sea by covid, many seafarers are now being denied shore leave again by the rolling port strikes.
Source: splash247.com