Container terminal halts operations as some workers reject new shift system

AMMAN – A new dispute between Aqaba Container Terminal (ACT) management and employees has halted operations at the facility.

The dispute is the third this year, after employees went on strike in July and October demanding better pay and benefits. The strikes ended after management and staff reached agreements brokered by MPs.

But on Monday, differences resurfaced with the two sides disagreeing on working hours at the terminal. 

General Trade Union for Port and Clearance Workers (GTU) Spokesperson Mohammad Matilah told The Jordan Times over the phone that “as employees were about to start work, they were told by administrators to leave loading cranes,” adding that management later shut down electronic systems to force a halt in operations. 

Matilah said ACT employees have always worked 12 hours a day in two shifts, but management wants to change the working hours to one eight-hour shift and refused to talk to employees and negotiate with them to resume work. 

But ACT said it was forced to halt all operations at 7am on Monday due to “illegal actions” taken by a group of workers who contravened the new standard eight-hour shift system, which should have commenced as per a ruling by the Labour Court on November 10. 

“The ruling had reiterated the terminal’s right to adjust its shift system to meet its business demands, as mandated by the Labour Law of Jordan,” ACT said in a statement e-mailed to The Jordan Times Tuesday. 

The company said the workers, incited by GTU, proceeded to enter the terminal by force and attempted to enforce the older shift system, which posed a threat to the safety of other workers and compelled management to halt all operations. 

The actions of GTU and the workers in question constitute a direct violation of both the Labour Court ruling and the Labour Law, the statement said. 

“ACT has and will always follow the laws of Jordan, and it is with deep regret that the GTU has chosen to defy the recent Jordanian Labour Court ruling, thereby undermining the Jordanian justice system,” ACT CEO Jeppe Jensen said.

Jensen added that all employees involved in the current disruption will receive sanctions in accordance with the company’s internal regulations and the Labour Law. 

“This will include terminations of employee contracts as per Article 28 of the Labour Law and the sourcing of replacement workers where necessary,” the statement said. 

Hamzeh Basiouni, an ACT employee, told The Jordan Times that Gendarmerie forces used tear gas to disperse workers who were trying to enter the terminal on Tuesday morning. 

Basiouni charged that around 30 of his colleagues were arrested, a claim dismissed by a security source, who said gendarmes intervened when workers tried to prevent Asian staff from entering the terminal. 

Basiouni said these workers have never worked at the terminal and management brought them in to replace the regular staff.  

“It is the company’s decision to halt operations as employees are ready to sit with management to negotiate,” he said, explaining that the new shift system will affect their income as working hours will be reduced.