In the bustling Port of Hamburg, employees at the Burchardkai terminal, operated by HHLA, have been vocal in their opposition to the involvement of MSC, the world's largest shipping company, in the city-owned handling company. This isn't just a concern - it's a cry for preservation.
Here's the deal: HHLA's financial waters are troubled, with some experts fearing a potential loss of 300 million euros in 2023/24. And guess where a significant chunk of this potential loss might be coming from? The very terminal where the loudest cries of "protest" are heard - Burchardkai.
Why Burchardkai, you ask? Well, it's traditional cash cow for HHLA's port workers. Some of them manage to rake in an impressive gross income, with bonuses, upward of 100,000 euros per year. That's not a bad earning for a hard day's work at the docks!
The Left Party has jumped onto the bandwagon, offering political support to these cubs that want to hold onto their privileged position. They're dreaming of a "people-owned company port", echoing the failed VEB concept from the defunct GDR. But alas, VEBs didn't quite work out in the past, and the city isn't well-equipped to fill the entrepreneurial shoes or to procure ship cargo.
The city sees the wisdom in partnering with MSC, a move that could potentially pump 450 million euros into the much-needed restructuring of HHLA. This modernization, though, might come with a hitch - long-term job losses as automation advances. But, as harsh as it might sound, it's a necessity for HHLA to avoid falling farther behind its competitors, Rotterdam and Antwerp.
The SPD senators, Andreas Dressel (48) and Melanie Leonhard (46), have recognized this impending reality and struck a deal. They've pledged a five-year job guarantee at HHLA and the preservation of co-determination within the company. This should be cause for celebration for the employees, right? But instead, they're grumbling and looking to saw off their own branches.
★★★
Quote of the Week
"The sooner the Islamic Center Hamburg as a whole disappears from Hamburg, the better."
Interior Senator Andy Grote (55, SPD) after the search of the "Blue Mosque" on the Alster
- The ongoing protests at HHLA's Burchardkai terminal in Hamburg involve employees opposing the participation of MSC, the world's largest shipping company, in the city-owned handling company.
- The Burchardkai terminal has been, traditionally, a profitable area for HHLA's workers, with some earning up to 100,000 euros gross per year.
- The Left Party is offering political support to the workers, who are aiming to defend their privileges by dreaming of a "people-owned company port" reminiscent of the defunct GDR's VEBs.
- The city of Hamburg sees the wisdom in partnering with MSC, investing 450 million euros into the company's urgent restructuring to stay competitive.
- The incumbent SPD senators, Andreas Dressel and Melanie Leonhard, have acknowledged the necessity for modernization, job losses due to advancements in automation, and have agreed on a five-year job guarantee and the retention of co-determination in the company.
