But, in a statement released last week, HIT said that terminal operations are getting back to normal as more workers are returning to their posts. According to HIT, its container handling capability is at 86% of normal levels and expects operations to improve further in the days ahead.
HIT extended an injunction against port workers on 5 April 2013 which permits no more than 80 union members to conduct peaceful picketing in a designated staff car park.
Meanwhile, the port workers of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) are in the process of making an appeal to the Hong Kong High Court about the extended injunction. “It has not had any effects on the strike action but it’s more a problem because of our rights to picket,” Mr Chiu-wai explained.
Meanwhile, the progress of discussions is still slow. “What the employers are offering is still not close enough to what we want so we think they are not negotiating in good faith. They are also not taking any responsibility for our working conditions,” Mr Chui-wai added.
A spokesperson for HIT told Port Strategy: “The Labour Department is arranging another negotiation meeting with the external contractors, union representatives and the workers.”
