24.11.14Year-End, New-Year Cargo Handling Not to be Provided

The Japan Harbor Transportation Association (Nikkokyo) recently decided not to provide the year-end- and new-year-holiday cargo handling services this fiscal year at a meeting of its labor-management policy committee. Normally, the cargo handling services are provided on Dec. 31 and Jan. 2-4.

Upon requests from customers, Nikkokyo asked the National Federation of Dockworkers Unions of Japan (Zenkoku Kowan) and the Japanese Confederation of Port and Transport Workers' Unions (Koun Domei) to provide cargo handling services on the four days as they did last fiscal year. Nikkokyo held several rounds of negotiations with Zenkoku Kowan and Koun Domei but could not reach agreement.

The year-end- and new-year-holiday cargo handling services, which began in 2001, will now be discontinued in their 24th year. Nikkokyo will continue to hold discussions with Zenkoku Kowan and Koun Domei regarding whether the services will be given next fiscal year and after.