According to CNSS reports, the recent wave of strikes in Rotterdam, Europe's main port, triggered by labor disputes, has had an impact on the global supply chain. To prevent further escalation, a Dutch court has intervened and issued a temporary injunction, requiring the striking lash workers to return to their positions within a specified deadline.

Key workers responsible for container loading and unloading began striking last Wednesday (October 8) and announced an extension of the strike last Friday (October 10), leading to a standstill in port operations. Authorities at the Port of Rotterdam stated that the port is currently facing "severe congestion," with 33 vessels waiting at anchor for berths as of this Monday, including 15 deep-sea container ships.

Facing the escalating risk of supply chain disruptions, employers and business alliances have applied to the court, claiming that the strike has caused "disproportionate damage." While the Dutch union FNV believes that the strike's impact has not reached the legal threshold of a "broad social emergency," the court has still ordered the lash workers to resume work on Monday morning at 7 a.m. and stipulated that if an agreement is not reached by then, workers may strike again on Friday (October 17). This provides both sides with four days for negotiations.

The union initially demanded a 7% wage increase on top of existing automatic inflation adjustments. Last Friday, the union revised this demand to 6.5% to show goodwill. However, the two companies employing the lash workers still consider this demand excessive and have rejected it.

Despite lingering disagreements, both sides have agreed to resume negotiations during the court-mandated return-to-work period. The Port of Rotterdam has issued a statement expressing optimism about the negotiations and hopes that an agreement can be reached within the week. The court has warned that if no agreement is reached by Friday and the strike resumes, the business alliance may seek a longer-term injunction.

Additionally, the Belgian pilots' union has initiated work slowdowns in protest of national pension reforms, leading to a sharp decline in operational efficiency at major ports such as Antwerp. Data shows that as of Monday night, a total of 133 vessels are waiting outside Belgian ports, with 36 unable to depart due to a lack of pilots, and 89 inbound vessels forced to wait at anchor.

Meanwhile, domestic organizations in Belgium have called for a nationwide general strike on Tuesday (October 14), with expectations that the delays in Belgian ports will drastically worsen, further exacerbating the tense situation in the European and global supply chains.