Property and business interruption

8.7, dockworkers’ strike

South Africa: a potentially damaging strike by employees at the Transnet operated Pier 1 Container Terminal in Durban was resolved after just over a day with workers returning to duty. The strike was the result of a dispute involving the Time & Attendance clock-in system which was recently introduced at most Transnet terminals. According to a Transnet Port Terminals spokesperson the system was introduced because it would help improve productivity levels, however personnel at Pier 1 felt it was too stringent and asked for a revision. As the other terminals had accepted the system Transnet was not ready to comply with Pier 1 employees’ demands, leading to the closure of the gates as workers downed tools. One vessel, the fully cellular containership Jing Po He (36772 gt, built 1997) was stranded on berth 105 unable to work cargo until the dispute was resolved.