Felixstowe, UK: Fresh strikes have been announced in the Felixstowe port dispute – sparking more fears about supply chain disruption – after workers overwhelmingly rejected an attempt to impose a pay deal.
The Unite union said that the management at the Felixstowe Dock and Railway Company ended pay talks last week after announcing that it was imposing a pay deal of 7% on the workforce. The union says that the imposed pay deal is in reality a “sizeable pay cut” with the current real inflation rate (RPI) standing at 12.3%.
Unite surveyed 1,900 blue collar workers at the port and they voted to reject the imposed pay offer by 82% on a 78% turnout.
As a result, fresh strike action for eight days has been called from 07:00 Tuesday 27 September and ending on 06:59 on Wednesday 5 October.
Unite national officer for docks Bobby Morton said: “The latest strike action is entirely of Felixstowe’s own making. Rather than seeking to negotiate a deal to resolve the dispute, the company instead tried to impose a pay deal.
“Further strike action will inevitably lead to delays and disruption to the UK’s supply chain but this is entirely of the company’s own making.”
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Felixstowe and CK Hutchison (parent) are both eye-wateringly wealthy but rather than offer a fair pay offer, they have instead attempted to impose a real terms pay cut on their workers.
