SMIT and union make peace in Rotterdam
The dispute between SMIT Harbour Towage and unions has come to an end with agreement on a new labour deal. Trade union FNV Bondgenoten announced today that terms had been agreed on a new collective labour deal. The news comes after a dispute that saw repeated industrial action cause delays and force some ships to divert from Rotterdam to rival ports Antwerp and Hamburg. Workers started their strikes in February, leaving Rotterdam managers concerned for the port's reputation. Details of the package were not yet known as Fairplay Daily News went to press. At the begining of negotiations SMIT had said it would agree to an 8% pay rise but declined to pay its workers compensation of health insurance costs, travel expenditure, a retirement scheme and a €2,000 ($2,622) bonus.