Dockers at Felixstowe, Britain’s largest container port, are set to strike for eight days after unions rejected a 5% wage increase
- Union Unite warned of “major logistical problems” for transport at the Port of Felixstowe
- Felixstowe Docks workers offered the owners of Hutchison Ports a 5% pay rise
- The port said they had made a “fair offer” and were “disappointed” with the ballot.
- The strike was backed by 92% of Unite members who took part in the vote
Strike fever has reached the UK’s largest container port, with workers at Felixstowe ready to take industrial action for eight days from August 21 over a pay dispute.
Unite union members recorded a 92 percent majority in favor of the strike with a turnout of 81 percent.
The union says the dispute stems from the Felixstowe Dock and Railway Company offering its workers a wage increase of just 5 per cent.
This is an effective pay cut as the real inflation rate (RPI) is currently 11.9 percent. Last year workers received a below-inflation wage increase of 1.4 percent.
Port workers join a growing wave of workers in a range of sectors from rail to telecoms resorting to industrial action as wage increases fail to keep pace with inflation, which is expected to hit double digits in the UK by the end of the year.
Containers stand on the tarmac at the Port of Felixstowe in Felixstowe which handles 36% of UK freight container traffic
Unite’s regional officer, Miles Hubbard, said the industrial action would “inevitably lead to huge disruption throughout the UK supply chain”.
Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham said: “The bottom line is this is an extremely wealthy company that can afford to give its employees a raise. Instead, it opted to give shareholders bonanza payouts of £100m.
“Unite is focused on defending the jobs, wages and working conditions of its members and we will support our members 100 per cent in Felixstowe.
“Workers should not pay the price of the pandemic with a pay cut. Unite has had 360 disputes in just a few months and we will do everything in our power to defend workers.”
Mick Lynch joins the picket line at Euston Station yesterday July 27 as railway workers go on strike in the RMT over pay and working conditions
Strikes would bring Felixstowe to a standstill and cause major logistical problems for sea and road freight entering the port.
Felixstowe accounts for 48 per cent of UK container trade.
Unite Regional Officer Miles Hubbard said: “Strike action in Felixstowe will inevitably cause huge disruption throughout the UK supply chain.
“This dispute is caused by Felixstowe himself. Strike dates have yet to be announced, but even at this late stage the dispute could be settled if the company returns to negotiations and makes a realistic offer.’
