Towards the mapping of port labour systems and conflicts across Europe: a literature review

Bottalico, Andrea

doi:10.13169/workorgalaboglob.13.1.0130

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Work Organisation, Labour & Globalisation

Volume 13, Issue 1

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Towards the mapping of port labour systems and conflicts across Europe: a literature review

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research-article

Author(s): Andrea Bottalico

Publication date (Print): 1 April 2019

Journal: Work Organisation, Labour & Globalisation

Publisher: Pluto Journals

Keywords: port labour systems, maritime-logistics chain, intermodality, global supply chain, port studies

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Abstract

This article presents a literature review on labour dynamics in European ports. The aim is to provide a detailed and critical appraisal of the recent academic literature on port labour studies, in order to develop a comprehensive mapping of the variety of port labour regimes and conflicts in Europe with the ultimate aim of revealing the changing profile of labour requirements as a consequence of the structural transformations in the overall logistics chain. The review mainly considers the literature published during the period 2000-2017. Since ports have been explored by means of different theoretical approaches, paradigms and perspectives, the study aimed to foster a multidisciplinary approach between some streams and to consolidate them wherever possible. In the first part of the article, the main definitions, ideas and concepts developed in the literature by scholars on seaport research and port studies are reviewed and analysed. The second part discusses the literature on port geography and the third part addresses port labour dynamics in particular. The conclusions draw from the perspective of the maritime-logistics chain to analyse the variety of port labour systems and summarise the literature reviewed, stressing the need for further studies.

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Author and article information

Journal

Journal ID (doi): 10.2307/j50010512

Journal ID (jcode): workorgalaboglob

Title: Work Organisation, Labour & Globalisation

Publisher: Pluto Journals

ISSN: 1745-641X

ISSN: 1745-6428

Publication date (Print): 1 April 2019

Volume: 13

Issue: 1 ( doiID: 10.13169/workorgalaboglob.13.issue-1 )

Pages: 130-154

Article

Publisher ID: workorgalaboglob.13.1.0130

DOI: 10.13169/workorgalaboglob.13.1.0130

SO-VID: a3e1fced-ebf6-4f2e-88ee-3e71deda1908

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All content is freely available without charge to users or their institutions. Users are allowed to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of the articles in this journal without asking prior permission of the publisher or the author. Articles published in the journal are distributed under a http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

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lang eng

ScienceOpen disciplines: Sociology,Labor law,Political science,Labor & Demographic economics,Political economics

Keywords: global supply chain,maritime-logistics chain,port labour systems,intermodality,port studies

REFERENCES

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Bologna, S. (2010) Le multinazionali del mare [The multinationals of the sea], Milano: Egea.
Bologna, S. (2017) Tempesta perfetta sui mari. Il crack della finanza navale [The perfect storm on the seas. The crack of naval finance], Roma: DeriveApprodi.
Bonacich, E. & J. Wilson (2008) Getting the Goods. Port, Labour, and Logistics Revolution, New York: Cornell University press.
Bottalico, A. (2018) ‘Across the chain: Labour and conflicts in the European maritime-logistics sector', in J. Wilson & I. Ness (eds), Choke Points. Logistics Workers Disrupting the Global Supply Chain, London: Pluto Press:35-49.
Bottalico, A. (2019) ‘A common trajectory of port labour systems in Europe? The case of the port of Antwerp', Case study on transport policy, paper under review.
Castells, M. (2002) The Rise of Network Society, Oxford: Blackwell.
Cudahy, B.J. (2006) Box Boats. How Container Ships Changed the World, New York: Fordham University Press.
Davies, S., C.J. Davis, D. De Vries, L.H. Van Voss, L. Hesselink & K. Weinhauer (2000) Dockworkers. International Explorations in Comparative Labour History, 1790-1970, Vol. 1, London: Routledge.
Della Corte, E. (2002) Il lavoro sul fronte dei porti. Telematica e organizzazione del lavoro a Gioia Tauro, Southampton e Felixstowe [Port work. Telematics and work organization in Gioia Tauro, Southampton and Felixstowe], Catanzaro: Rubbettino.
Dempster, J. (2010) The Rise and Fall of the Dock Labour Scheme, London: Biteback Publishing.
Dupin, C. (2016) ‘Hanjin's bankruptcy was the largest for container shipping in 30 years', American Shipper, December 30. Accessed July 7, 2017 from https://www.americanshipper.com/news/?autonumber=66388&source=redirected-from-old-site-link.
European Transport Workers’ Federation (2013) ‘The ETF's response to the study by PORTIUS commissioned by the European Commission (Contract No. MOVE/C2/2010-81/SI2.588013): Port Labour in the EU', Brussels. Accessed July 5, 2017 from http://www.etf-europe.org/files/extranet/-75/40738/ETF%20response%20to%20Portius%20study.pdf.
Hodess, K.F. (2017) ‘(Re-)locating the local and national in the global: Multi-scalar political alignment in transnational european dockworker union campaigns', British Journal of Industrial Relations, 55 (3):626-47.
iContainers (2016) ‘Shipping alliances: New mergers'. Accessed March 8, 2017 from http://www.icontainers.com/us/2016/08/11/new-alliances-shipping-line-mergers/.
International Labour Organization (1973) ‘Convention concerning the social repercussions of new methods of cargo handling in docks', C137-Dock Work Convention, 1973 (No. 137), Geneva. Accessed July 20, 2017, from http://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=NORMLEXPUB:12100:0::NO::P12100_ILO_CODE:C137.
International Transport Forum (2015) ‘The impact of megaships'. Accessed July 10, 2017 from http://www.itf-oecd.org.
Ircha, M.C. & M.G. Balsom (2005) ‘Educational technology - enhancing port training', World Maritime University Journal of Maritime Affairs, 4 (2):211-25.
Istituto Superiore di Ricerca e Formazione per i Trasporti (2012) ‘Far west Italia. Il futuro dei porti e del lavoro portuale', Rapporti periodici, Accessed July 16, 2017 from http://www.isfort.it/sito/pubblicazioni/Rapporti%20periodici/RP_17_luglio_2012.pdf.
Koenzen, A. (2016) Deadweight, 90', film. Germany/Finland: Rohfilm, Colour.
Kumar, S. & J. Hoffman (2010) ‘Globalisation: The maritime nexus', in C. Grammenos (ed.), The Handbook of Maritime Economics and Business, 2nd ed., London: Lloyd's list:35-62.
Levinson, M. (2006) The Box. How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger, Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Mah, A. (2014) Port Cities and Global Legacies. Urban Identity, Waterfront Work, and Radicalism, London: Palgrave Macmillan.
Meersman, H., E. Van de Voorde & T. Vanelslander (2009) ‘Introduction', in H. Meersman, E. Van de Voorde & T. Vanelslander (eds), Future Challenges in the Port and Shipping Sector, The Grammenos Library, London: Informa:xix-xxi.
Meersman, H., E. Van De Voorde & T. Vanelslander (2010) ‘Port competition revisited', Review of Business and Economic Literature, 55 (2):210-33.
Miller, A.S. & W.K. Talley (2002) ‘Technology and labor relations: Railroads and ports', Journal of Labor Research, 23 (4):513-33.
Ng, A.K.Y., C. Ducruet, W. Jacobs, J. Monios, T. Notteboom, J.P. Rodrigue, B. Slack, K.C. Tam & G. Wilmsmeier (2014) ‘Port geography at the crossroads with human geography: Between flows and spaces', Journal of Transport Geography, 41:84-96.
Notteboom, T. (2010) Dock Labour and Port-Related Employment in the European Seaport System: Key Factors to Port Competitiveness and Reform, Study Commissioned by the European Sea Ports Organisation, Antwerp: ITMMA, University of Antwerp.
Notteboom, T., P. De Langen & W. Jacobs (2013) ‘Institutional plasticity and path dependence in seaports: Interactions between institutions, port governance reforms and port authority routines', Journal of Transport Geography, 27:26-35.
Notteboom, T. & J.P. Rodrigue (2005) ‘Port regionalization: Towards a new phase in port development', Maritime Policy & Management, 32 (3):297-313.
Notteboom, T. & J.P. Rodrigue (2008) ‘Containerisation, box logistics and global supply chains: The integration of ports and liner shipping networks', Maritime Economics & Logistics, 10:152-174.
Pallis, A.A., T.K. Vitsounis, P.W. De Langen & T. Notteboom (2011) ‘Port economics, policy and management: Content classification and survey', Transport Reviews, 31 (4):445-71.
Phillips, G. & N. Whiteside (1985) Casual Labour: The Unemployment Question in the Port Transport Industry, 1880-1970, New York: Clarendon Press of Oxford University Press.
Rimmer, P.J. & C. Comtois (2009) ‘China's container-related dynamics, 1990-2005', GeoJournal, 74:35-50.
Robinson, R. (2002) ‘Ports as elements in value-driven chain systems: The new paradigm', Maritime Policy & Management, 29 (3):241-55.
Rodrigues, A., C. Ferrari, F. Parola & A. Tei (2015) ‘Competition issues in liner shipping. Note by the secretariat', DAF/COMP/WP2(2015)3, Paris: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Serra, P., P. Fadda & G. Fancello (2016) ‘Evaluation of alternative scenarios of labour flexibility for dockworkers in maritime container terminals', Maritime Policy & Management, 43 (3):371-85.
Sys, C. (2009) ‘Is the container liner shipping industry an oligopoly?', Transport Policy, 16:259-70.
Sys, C., G. Blauwens, E. Omey, E. Van De Voorde & F. Witlox (2008) ‘In search of the link between ship size and operations', Transportation Planning and Technology, 31 (4):435-63.
Talley, W.K. (2002) ‘Dockworker earnings, containerisation, and shipping deregulation', Journal of Transport Economics and Policy, 36 (3):447-67.
Thomas, R. & P. Turnbull (2016) ‘Talking up a storm? Using language to activate adherents and demobilize detractors of European Commission policy frames', Journal of European Public Policy, 24 (7):931-50.
Tonizzi, E.M. (2014) ‘Lavoro e lavoratori del mare nell'età della globalizzazione', Contemporanea, 4:691-702.
Turnbull, P. (2016). ‘Sailing into a storm? Marketization and industrial relations in European ports', Workshop, Cornell University, School of Industrial & Labour Relations, Marketization and Neoliberal restructuring in Europe, June 16.
Turnbull, P. & D. Sapsford (2001) ‘Hitting the bricks: An international comparative study of conflict on the waterfront', Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, 40 (2):231-57.
Van de Voorde, E. & T. Vanelslander (2014) ‘Trends in the maritime logistics chain: Vertical port co-operation: Strategies and relationships', in T. Vanelslander & C. Sys (eds), Port Business, Market Challenges and Management Actions, Antwerp: University Press Antwerp:121-40.
Van de Voorde, E. & W. Winkelmans (2002) ‘A general introduction to port competition and management', in M. Huybrechts, H. Meersman, E. Van de Voorde, E. Van Hooydonk, A. Verbeke & W. Winkelmans (eds), Port Competitiveness: An Economic and Legal Analysis of the Factors Determining the Competitiveness of Seaports, Antwerp: De Boeck:1-16.
Van Hassel, E., H. Meersman, E. Van de Voorde & T. Vanelslander (2016) ‘Impact of scale increase of container ships on the generalised chain cost', Maritime Policy & Management, 43 (2):192-208.
Van Hooydonk, E. (2013) ‘Legal study 2013 - Portius, port labour regimes in the EU Member States: Fact-finding exercise', Study commissioned by the European Commission, Brussels, final report, January 8.
Verhoeven, P. (2009) ‘European ports policy: Meeting contemporary governance challenges', Maritime Policy & Management, 36 (1):79-101.
Verhoeven, P. (2011) ‘Dock labour schemes in the context of EU law and policy', European Research Studies, 14 (2):149-66.
Walters, D. & E.J. Wadsworth (2016) ‘Experiences of arrangements for health, safety and welfare in the global container terminal industry', Institution of Occupational Safety and Health. Accessed July 5, 2017 from https://www.iosh.co.uk/~/media/174932C55235409F90881FD04E8421F2.ashx.
Wilmsmeier, G. & J. Monios (2015) ‘The production of capitalist “smooth” space in global port operations', Journal of Transport Geography, 47:59-69.
Wilson, J.A. & I. Ness (2018) Choke Points. Logistics Workers Disrupting the Global Supply Chain, London: Pluto Press.
Woo, S.W., S.J. Pettit, D.W. Kwak & A.K.C. Beresford (2011) ‘Seaport research: A structured review on methodological issues since the 1980s', Transportation Research Part A, 45 (7):667-85.
World Bank (2007) Port Reform Toolkit, 2nd ed., Washington, DC: World Bank.

Comments

Comment on this article

[1] Alexandrou, G., D. Gounopoulos & T. Hardy (2014) ‘Mergers and acquisitions in maritime industry', Transportation Research Part E, 61:212-34.

[2] Bologna, S. (2010) Le multinazionali del mare [The multinationals of the sea], Milano: Egea.

[3] Bologna, S. (2017) Tempesta perfetta sui mari. Il crack della finanza navale [The perfect storm on the seas. The crack of naval finance], Roma: DeriveApprodi.

[4] Bonacich, E. & J. Wilson (2008) Getting the Goods. Port, Labour, and Logistics Revolution, New York: Cornell University press.

[5] Bottalico, A. (2018) ‘Across the chain: Labour and conflicts in the European maritime-logistics sector', in J. Wilson & I. Ness (eds), Choke Points. Logistics Workers Disrupting the Global Supply Chain, London: Pluto Press:35-49.

[6] Bottalico, A. (2019) ‘A common trajectory of port labour systems in Europe? The case of the port of Antwerp', Case study on transport policy, paper under review.

[7] Castells, M. (2002) The Rise of Network Society, Oxford: Blackwell.

[8] Cudahy, B.J. (2006) Box Boats. How Container Ships Changed the World, New York: Fordham University Press.

[9] Davies, S., C.J. Davis, D. De Vries, L.H. Van Voss, L. Hesselink & K. Weinhauer (2000) Dockworkers. International Explorations in Comparative Labour History, 1790-1970, Vol. 1, London: Routledge.

[10] Della Corte, E. (2002) Il lavoro sul fronte dei porti. Telematica e organizzazione del lavoro a Gioia Tauro, Southampton e Felixstowe [Port work. Telematics and work organization in Gioia Tauro, Southampton and Felixstowe], Catanzaro: Rubbettino.

[11] Dempster, J. (2010) The Rise and Fall of the Dock Labour Scheme, London: Biteback Publishing.

[12] Dupin, C. (2016) ‘Hanjin's bankruptcy was the largest for container shipping in 30 years', American Shipper, December 30. Accessed July 7, 2017 from https://www.americanshipper.com/news/?autonumber=66388&source=redirected-from-old-site-link.

[13] European Transport Workers’ Federation (2013) ‘The ETF's response to the study by PORTIUS commissioned by the European Commission (Contract No. MOVE/C2/2010-81/SI2.588013): Port Labour in the EU', Brussels. Accessed July 5, 2017 from http://www.etf-europe.org/files/extranet/-75/40738/ETF%20response%20to%20Portius%20study.pdf.

[14] Hodess, K.F. (2017) ‘(Re-)locating the local and national in the global: Multi-scalar political alignment in transnational european dockworker union campaigns', British Journal of Industrial Relations, 55 (3):626-47.

[15] iContainers (2016) ‘Shipping alliances: New mergers'. Accessed March 8, 2017 from http://www.icontainers.com/us/2016/08/11/new-alliances-shipping-line-mergers/.

[16] International Labour Organization (1973) ‘Convention concerning the social repercussions of new methods of cargo handling in docks', C137-Dock Work Convention, 1973 (No. 137), Geneva. Accessed July 20, 2017, from http://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=NORMLEXPUB:12100:0::NO::P12100_ILO_CODE:C137.

[17] International Transport Forum (2015) ‘The impact of megaships'. Accessed July 10, 2017 from http://www.itf-oecd.org.

[18] Ircha, M.C. & M.G. Balsom (2005) ‘Educational technology - enhancing port training', World Maritime University Journal of Maritime Affairs, 4 (2):211-25.

[19] Istituto Superiore di Ricerca e Formazione per i Trasporti (2012) ‘Far west Italia. Il futuro dei porti e del lavoro portuale', Rapporti periodici, Accessed July 16, 2017 from http://www.isfort.it/sito/pubblicazioni/Rapporti%20periodici/RP_17_luglio_2012.pdf.

[20] Koenzen, A. (2016) Deadweight, 90', film. Germany/Finland: Rohfilm, Colour.

[21] Kumar, S. & J. Hoffman (2010) ‘Globalisation: The maritime nexus', in C. Grammenos (ed.), The Handbook of Maritime Economics and Business, 2nd ed., London: Lloyd's list:35-62.

[22] Levinson, M. (2006) The Box. How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger, Princeton: Princeton University Press.

[23] Mah, A. (2014) Port Cities and Global Legacies. Urban Identity, Waterfront Work, and Radicalism, London: Palgrave Macmillan.

[24] Meersman, H., E. Van de Voorde & T. Vanelslander (2009) ‘Introduction', in H. Meersman, E. Van de Voorde & T. Vanelslander (eds), Future Challenges in the Port and Shipping Sector, The Grammenos Library, London: Informa:xix-xxi.

[25] Meersman, H., E. Van De Voorde & T. Vanelslander (2010) ‘Port competition revisited', Review of Business and Economic Literature, 55 (2):210-33.

[26] Miller, A.S. & W.K. Talley (2002) ‘Technology and labor relations: Railroads and ports', Journal of Labor Research, 23 (4):513-33.

[27] Ng, A.K.Y., C. Ducruet, W. Jacobs, J. Monios, T. Notteboom, J.P. Rodrigue, B. Slack, K.C. Tam & G. Wilmsmeier (2014) ‘Port geography at the crossroads with human geography: Between flows and spaces', Journal of Transport Geography, 41:84-96.

[28] Notteboom, T. (2010) Dock Labour and Port-Related Employment in the European Seaport System: Key Factors to Port Competitiveness and Reform, Study Commissioned by the European Sea Ports Organisation, Antwerp: ITMMA, University of Antwerp.

[29] Notteboom, T., P. De Langen & W. Jacobs (2013) ‘Institutional plasticity and path dependence in seaports: Interactions between institutions, port governance reforms and port authority routines', Journal of Transport Geography, 27:26-35.

[30] Notteboom, T. & J.P. Rodrigue (2005) ‘Port regionalization: Towards a new phase in port development', Maritime Policy & Management, 32 (3):297-313.

[31] Notteboom, T. & J.P. Rodrigue (2008) ‘Containerisation, box logistics and global supply chains: The integration of ports and liner shipping networks', Maritime Economics & Logistics, 10:152-174.

[32] Pallis, A.A., T.K. Vitsounis, P.W. De Langen & T. Notteboom (2011) ‘Port economics, policy and management: Content classification and survey', Transport Reviews, 31 (4):445-71.

[33] Phillips, G. & N. Whiteside (1985) Casual Labour: The Unemployment Question in the Port Transport Industry, 1880-1970, New York: Clarendon Press of Oxford University Press.

[34] Rimmer, P.J. & C. Comtois (2009) ‘China's container-related dynamics, 1990-2005', GeoJournal, 74:35-50.

[35] Robinson, R. (2002) ‘Ports as elements in value-driven chain systems: The new paradigm', Maritime Policy & Management, 29 (3):241-55.

[36] Rodrigues, A., C. Ferrari, F. Parola & A. Tei (2015) ‘Competition issues in liner shipping. Note by the secretariat', DAF/COMP/WP2(2015)3, Paris: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

[37] Serra, P., P. Fadda & G. Fancello (2016) ‘Evaluation of alternative scenarios of labour flexibility for dockworkers in maritime container terminals', Maritime Policy & Management, 43 (3):371-85.

[38] Sys, C. (2009) ‘Is the container liner shipping industry an oligopoly?', Transport Policy, 16:259-70.

[39] Sys, C., G. Blauwens, E. Omey, E. Van De Voorde & F. Witlox (2008) ‘In search of the link between ship size and operations', Transportation Planning and Technology, 31 (4):435-63.

[40] Talley, W.K. (2002) ‘Dockworker earnings, containerisation, and shipping deregulation', Journal of Transport Economics and Policy, 36 (3):447-67.

[41] Thomas, R. & P. Turnbull (2016) ‘Talking up a storm? Using language to activate adherents and demobilize detractors of European Commission policy frames', Journal of European Public Policy, 24 (7):931-50.

[42] Tonizzi, E.M. (2014) ‘Lavoro e lavoratori del mare nell'età della globalizzazione', Contemporanea, 4:691-702.

[43] Turnbull, P. (2016). ‘Sailing into a storm? Marketization and industrial relations in European ports', Workshop, Cornell University, School of Industrial & Labour Relations, Marketization and Neoliberal restructuring in Europe, June 16.

[44] Turnbull, P. & D. Sapsford (2001) ‘Hitting the bricks: An international comparative study of conflict on the waterfront', Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, 40 (2):231-57.

[45] Van de Voorde, E. & T. Vanelslander (2014) ‘Trends in the maritime logistics chain: Vertical port co-operation: Strategies and relationships', in T. Vanelslander & C. Sys (eds), Port Business, Market Challenges and Management Actions, Antwerp: University Press Antwerp:121-40.

[46] Van de Voorde, E. & W. Winkelmans (2002) ‘A general introduction to port competition and management', in M. Huybrechts, H. Meersman, E. Van de Voorde, E. Van Hooydonk, A. Verbeke & W. Winkelmans (eds), Port Competitiveness: An Economic and Legal Analysis of the Factors Determining the Competitiveness of Seaports, Antwerp: De Boeck:1-16.

[47] Van Hassel, E., H. Meersman, E. Van de Voorde & T. Vanelslander (2016) ‘Impact of scale increase of container ships on the generalised chain cost', Maritime Policy & Management, 43 (2):192-208.

[48] Van Hooydonk, E. (2013) ‘Legal study 2013 - Portius, port labour regimes in the EU Member States: Fact-finding exercise', Study commissioned by the European Commission, Brussels, final report, January 8.

[49] Verhoeven, P. (2009) ‘European ports policy: Meeting contemporary governance challenges', Maritime Policy & Management, 36 (1):79-101.

[50] Verhoeven, P. (2011) ‘Dock labour schemes in the context of EU law and policy', European Research Studies, 14 (2):149-66.

[51] Walters, D. & E.J. Wadsworth (2016) ‘Experiences of arrangements for health, safety and welfare in the global container terminal industry', Institution of Occupational Safety and Health. Accessed July 5, 2017 from https://www.iosh.co.uk/~/media/174932C55235409F90881FD04E8421F2.ashx.

[52] Wilmsmeier, G. & J. Monios (2015) ‘The production of capitalist “smooth” space in global port operations', Journal of Transport Geography, 47:59-69.

[53] Wilson, J.A. & I. Ness (2018) Choke Points. Logistics Workers Disrupting the Global Supply Chain, London: Pluto Press.

[54] Woo, S.W., S.J. Pettit, D.W. Kwak & A.K.C. Beresford (2011) ‘Seaport research: A structured review on methodological issues since the 1980s', Transportation Research Part A, 45 (7):667-85.

[55] World Bank (2007) Port Reform Toolkit, 2nd ed., Washington, DC: World Bank.