Staff on the UK’s greatest container port will go on strike for greater than per week later this month in a dispute over pay.
Greater than 1,900 members of Unite union at Felixstowe will strike for eight days from Sunday 21 August till Monday 29 August.
The union mentioned that employer Felixstowe Dock and Railway Firm had failed to enhance on its supply of a 7% pay improve, following solely a 1.4% improve final yr.
Nearly half of the UK’s container site visitors comes by way of Felixstowe and Unite mentioned the motion would hit provide chains, the logistics and haulage sectors, in addition to worldwide maritime commerce.
It’s the newest spherical of business motion by staff pushing for pay to maintain up with the price of dwelling.
Unite nationwide officer for docks Bobby Morton mentioned: “Strike motion will trigger large disruption and can generate large shockwaves all through the UK’s provide chain, however this dispute is completely of the corporate’s personal making.
“It has had each alternative make our members a good supply however has chosen not to take action.
“Felixstowe must cease prevaricating and make a pay supply which meets our members’ expectations.”
‘Massively worthwhile and extremely rich’
Unite normal secretary Sharon Graham mentioned each Felixstowe docks and its dad or mum firm Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison are “massively worthwhile and extremely rich”, including: “They’re absolutely capable of pay the workforce a good day’s pay.
“The corporate has prioritised delivering multi-million pound dividends moderately than paying its staff an honest wage.
“Unite is completely targeted on enhancing its members’ jobs, pay and situations and it is going to be giving the employees at Felixstowe its full help till this dispute is resolved and an honest pay improve is secured.”
Extra talks are because of happen on Monday.
In an announcement provided to media, a spokesperson for the port mentioned: “The corporate continues to actively search an answer that works for all events and that avoids industrial motion.
“We perceive our workers’ issues on the rising price of dwelling and are decided to do all we are able to to assist while persevering with to put money into the port’s success.
“Discussions are ongoing and the corporate’s newest place in negotiations is an enhanced pay improve of seven%. We’re assembly once more on Monday 8 August with Acas and the union.
“The port has not had a strike since 1989 and we’re upset that the union has served discover of business motion whereas talks are ongoing. The port supplies safe and well-paid employment and there shall be no winners from industrial motion.”
The Division for Transport has additionally been contacted for remark.
Felixstowe welcomes roughly 2,000 ship annually, in accordance with its web site, together with a number of the world’s largest container vessels.
Round 17 delivery strains function from the port, providing 33 companies to and from greater than 700 ports around the globe.
