Algeciras signs 10-year collective bargaining agreement

Signed by members of the Stevedoring Sector Negotiation Round, the agreement directly affects the 1,230 permanent stevedores employed by the port authority, which has guaranteed labour force availability to support the commitment by the port’s largest customer, APM Terminals, to handle at least 3m teus annually at its dedicated terminal.

Signatories to the agreement are Coordinadora, CCOO and UGT (Trade Unions), Anesco (APM Terminals), Apemar and MarApie (formerly Sestibalsa). Antolín Goya, head of the dock workers union Coordinadora, described the agreement as “unprecedented” in Europe, adding, “It is a great agreement for the port and we all have the responsibility to work together for the port”.

APM Terminal Algeciras general manager, Anders Kjeldsen, thanked all parties for the effort and work in achieving successfully negotiations, stating that “together we have laid the foundations to be prepared to fight competition and build the best port at the Strait of Gibraltar”, although he insisted all parties would have to keep on working hard.