Weekly Logistics Briefing Key logistics updates for the week (Week 4 of March 2024)

Finland's major labor unions found talks with the government to be useless, it announced a three-week extension of the strike, which is crippling the nation's cargo operations. The union has been on strike since March 11 and announced that it will extend it to at least April 1. The union opposes the government's move to allow localized and individual labor contracts. Finnish Industrial Association, Automobile and Transportation Labor Union AKT, Service Labor Union PAM, Construction Labor Union, Public and Welfare Labor Union JHL, and Electric Labor Union are participating in the strike. Freight traffic at the ports has been suspended, but passenger transportation is normal.

Bolivia will implement the following restrictions as the '24 census is conducted. From March 22 to stopping overland transportation between countries and within country and prohibition of liquor sales and consumption. On March 23, all Bolivians must stay at home, and almost all businesses are likely to be closed. International flights are allowed to operate, but domestic flights are likely to be canceled. From March 22 to 24, all public and private activities including school operation are suspended.

Despite a series of missile strikes by the U.S. and Britain, Houthi rebels have not stopped attacking. A French warship intercepted three ballistic missiles while closely protecting a merchant ship in the South Red Sea on March 21. The U.S. Central Command is issuing a daily summary, reporting that it has destroyed one unmanned aircraft and one unmanned ship on March 21. Since the Houthi rebels have efficient supply channels such as domestic production and stable maritime smuggling routes from Iran, it is difficult to deplete the Houthi rebels' munitions reserves in the long run. The U.S. is not trying to reduce its naval presence elsewhere to further expand its forces in the Red Sea, and the European Union recently launched a naval support mission, but its influence is still uncertain

Strong spring snowstorm that is expected Sunday is already causing issues with flight delays and cancellations at St. Paul-Minneapolis International Airport (MSP). Sunday night, snow is likely to be heavy with winds coming from the east at 20 to 35 mph and the storm is expected in the afternoon and into the evening.

Italian railway union members are scheduled to go on a nationwide strike from 21:00 on March 23 to 21:00 on March 24. Labor unions CUB Trasporti, SGB, and USB are protesting against various issues such as health and safety, working hours, wages, and collective labor agreements. The industrial action is set to cause disruption to regional, Frecce and Intercity trains operated by Trenitalia as well as Italo and Trenord services. Trenitalia assures travellers that certain routes are guaranteed even during strikes, including regional trains during the busiest commuter times (06:00-09:00 and 18:00-21:00).

Mae Hong Son, Thailand, faces severe travel disruptions due to critical forest fires, leading to flight cancellations by Bangkok airways. The forest fire situation remains dire, particularly in Mueang Mae Hong Son District, where satellite imagery detected 277 hotspots and identified 110 forest fire locations. The town continues to be blanketed in thick smoke haze, with fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels exceeding the standard by seven times. Bangkok Airways cancelled Flight PG 205 from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Lampang and Mae Hong Son, on March 18, due to hazardous levels of smoke haze severely affecting visibility.

As of March 19, workers from the Sri Lanka Customs Service union went on strike nationwide. Union members urge urgent resolution of fund and incentive management issues. About 1,000 containers are currently blocked by customs with a partial strike starting on March 17 and the strike deadline is not specified.

On March 20, Polish farmers are set to stage widespread protests across Poland, promising to block roads in over 500 locations using agricultural machinery. This mass mobilization is in response to EU environmental policies, with demands for their financial assistance from the EU, and a ban on non-EU agricultural imports, notably from Ukraine. The protests, involving nearly 70,000 farmers, will significantly affect traffic.

Amazon workers at a warehouse in Coventry, Britain, are striking for better pay and union recognition. The GMB Union, representing the workers, has applied to the Central Arbitration Committee for compulsory recognition. If successful, this would mark the first instance of Amazon being forced to recognize a trade union in Europe.

The fire on the ship Cuyahoga at the Kinder Morgan docks was extinguished late Friday night by firefighters after battling for hours. The blaze started in the afternoon and produced thick smoke. It involved material-handling equipment on the ship. All 39 people on board safely evacuated. Firefighters from four departments used large amounts of water and environmentally-friendly foam to douse the fire. No other vessels were damaged. The cause is under investigation by local and national authorities.