IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bpj/nglost/v16y2022i1p31-47n3.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Automation Processes in the Port Industry and Union Strategies: The Case of Antwerp

Author

Listed:
  • Bottalico Andrea

    (University of Naples "Federico II," Naples, Italy)

Abstract

Automation represents a sensitive issue in the debate between social actors of the port-maritime industry. Automation produced a contraction of the number of dockworkers since the 1960s. However, the idea that technological innovation will produce the disappearance of work is not sustained by empirical evidence. For this reason, trade unions have been particularly watchful. Despite the discourses about robotization carried out by supply chain operators, the paradigm of the post-COVID logistics chain is still based upon the human labor cost. During the pandemic there has been a transformation in working conditions not in terms of replacing people with robots, but rather of the robotization of workers to obtain the maximum productive exploitation at the minimum wage allowed. The purpose of this article is to provide an analysis of labor relations and workers organizing in light of the automation processes in the European port of Antwerp. The article focuses on how working conditions and jobs are potentially impacted by automation in ports, and on how workers disruptive strategies are resisting to these dynamics. The following questions have been answered: How do trade unions and dockworkers respond to automation? What are the strategies implemented in the bargaining processes?

Suggested Citation

  • Bottalico Andrea, 2022. "Automation Processes in the Port Industry and Union Strategies: The Case of Antwerp," New Global Studies, De Gruyter, vol. 16(1), pages 31-47, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:nglost:v:16:y:2022:i:1:p:31-47:n:3
    DOI: 10.1515/ngs-2022-0003
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1515/ngs-2022-0003
    Download Restriction: For access to full text, subscription to the journal or payment for the individual article is required.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1515/ngs-2022-0003?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Shiyuan Zheng & Rudy R. Negenborn, 2017. "Terminal investment timing decisions in a competitive setting with uncertainty using a real option approach," Maritime Policy & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 44(3), pages 392-411, April.
    2. Narges Kaveshgar & Nathan Huynh, 2015. "A genetic algorithm heuristic for solving the quay crane scheduling problem with time windows," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 17(4), pages 515-537, December.
    3. Jan Inge Jenssen, 2003. "Innovation, capabilities and competitive advantage in Norwegian shipping," Maritime Policy & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 30(2), pages 93-106, January.
    4. Wen-Shyan Yang & Gin-Shuh Liang & Ji-Feng Ding, 2013. "Identifying solutions for adding service value to international port logistics centers in Taiwan," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 15(4), pages 395-415, December.
    5. Alice Mah, 2014. "Port Cities and Global Legacies," Palgrave Macmillan Books, Palgrave Macmillan, number 978-1-137-28314-6, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Zheng, Shiyuan & Jiang, Changmin & Fu, Xiaowen, 2021. "Investment competition on dedicated terminals under demand ambiguity," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    2. Yang, Ching-Chiao & Marlow, Peter B. & Lu, Chin-Shan, 2009. "Assessing resources, logistics service capabilities, innovation capabilities and the performance of container shipping services in Taiwan," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 122(1), pages 4-20, November.
    3. Zheng, Shiyuan & Wang, Kun & Chan, Felix T.S. & Fu, Xiaowen & Li, Zhi-Chun, 2022. "Subsidy on transport adaptation investment-modeling decisions under incomplete information and ambiguity," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 103-129.
    4. Lee, Choong Bae & Wan, Junbin & Shi, Wenming & Li, Kevin, 2014. "A cross-country study of competitiveness of the shipping industry," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 366-376.
    5. Song, Zhuzhu & Tang, Wansheng & Zhao, Ruiqing, 2018. "Cooperation mode for a liner company with heterogeneous ports: Business cooperation vs. port investment," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 513-533.
    6. Andrejs Čirjevskis, 2021. "Exploring the Link of Real Options Theory with Dynamic Capabilities Framework in Open Innovation-Type Merger and Acquisition Deals," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-16, April.
    7. Andreas A. Kouspos & Photis M. Panayides & Dimitris A. Tsouknidis, 2023. "The relationship between technical innovation and financial performance in shipping firms," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 25(4), pages 698-727, December.
    8. Lam, Jasmine Siu Lee & Zhang, Xiunian, 2019. "Innovative solutions for enhancing customer value in liner shipping," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 88-95.
    9. Thanopoulou, Helen A., 2007. "Chapter 2 A Fleet for the 21st Century: Modern Greek Shipping," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 21(1), pages 23-61, January.
    10. Pedro Janela Pinto & G. Mathias Kondolf, 2020. "The Fit of Urban Waterfront Interventions: Matters of Size, Money and Function," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-17, May.
    11. Joanna Alicja Dyczkowska & Olga Reshetnikova, 2022. "Logistics Centers in Ukraine: Analysis of the Logistics Center in Lviv," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-15, October.
    12. Wang, Junjin & Liu, Jiaguo & Wang, Fan & Yue, Xiaohang, 2021. "Blockchain technology for port logistics capability: Exclusive or sharing," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 347-392.
    13. Buddhi A. Weerasinghe & H. Niles Perera & Xiwen Bai, 2024. "Optimizing container terminal operations: a systematic review of operations research applications," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 26(2), pages 307-341, June.
    14. Andrejs Čirjevskis, 2021. "Value Maximizing Decisions in the Real Estate Market: Real Options Valuation Approach," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-19, June.
    15. Veterina Nosadila Riaventin & Sofyan Dwi Cahyo & Ivan Kristianto Singgih, 2021. "A Model for Developing Existing Ports Considering Economic Impact and Network Connectivity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-17, March.
    16. Alexandridis, George & Kavussanos, Manolis G. & Kim, Chi Y. & Tsouknidis, Dimitris A. & Visvikis, Ilias D., 2018. "A survey of shipping finance research: Setting the future research agenda," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 164-212.
    17. Toby Roberts & Ian Williams & John Preston & Nick Clarke & Melinda Odum & Stefanie O’Gorman, 2021. "Love Thy Neighbour: Social Benefits and Port-City Relationships," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-18, December.
    18. Ding, Ji-Feng & Shyu, Wen-Hwa & Yeh, Chun-Tsen & Ting, Pi-Hui & Ting, Chung-Te & Lin, Chien-Pang & Chou, Chien-Chang & Wu, Su-Sin, 2016. "Assessing customer value for express service providers: An empirical study from shippers’ perspective in Taiwan," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 203-212.
    19. Matthew C Benwell & Andrew Davies & Bethan Evans & Catherine Wilkinson, 2020. "Engaging political histories of urban uprisings with young people: The Liverpool riots, 1981 and 2011," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 38(4), pages 599-618, June.
    20. Koliousis, Ioannis G. & Papadimitriou, Stratos & Riza, Elena & Stavroulakis, Peter J. & Tsioumas, Vangelis, 2019. "Strategic correlations for maritime clusters," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 43-57.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bpj:nglost:v:16:y:2022:i:1:p:31-47:n:3. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Peter Golla (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.degruyter.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.