Over 1,900 Unite labor union members are on an eight-day strike that began Sunday, August 21st at the Port of Felixstowe, the United Kingdom’s largest container shipping gateway. The union includes workers that undertake all forms of manual roles at the docks including crane drivers, machine operators and stevedores.
Unite announced the strike on their website earlier this month, citing “dispute over pay after peace talks at the conciliation service Acas failed to produce a reasonable offer.”
“Talks at Acas failed to reach a satisfactory conclusion yesterday after the employer the Felixstowe Dock and Railway Company failed to improve on its offer of a seven per cent pay increase, which is significantly below the real (RPI) inflation rate of 11.8 per cent. Industrial relations were already strained as workers only received a 1.4 per cent, below inflation, increase last year.”
UNITE UNION: STRIKES ANNOUNCED AT PORT OF FELIXSTOWE AS COMPANY FAILS TO MAKE ACCEPTABLE PAY OFFER FRIDAY 5 AUGUST
FELIXSTOWE VESSEL DIVERSIONS
Some ocean carriers have decided to anchor and wait for operations to resume, while other are omitting the port call from their schedules and divert cargo to other European terminals. Felixstowe handles 4 million TEU annually and 48% of all containers brought into the UK.
The excess volume is likely to aggravate the existing congestion at ports across Europe even further, some of which are still recovering from their own labor disputes.
“The company is disappointed that Unite has not taken up our offer to call off the strike and come to the table for constructive discussions to find a resolution. We recognise these are difficult times but, in a slowing economy, we believe that the company’s offer, worth over 8% on average in the current year and closer to 10% for lower paid workers, is fair. Unite has failed our employees by not consulting them on the offer and, as a result, they have been put in a position where they will lose pay by going on strike.
The port regrets the impact this action will have on UK supply chains. We are grateful for the support we have had from our customers and are working with them to mitigate disruption. The port provides secure and well-paid employment and there will be no winners from this unnecessary industrial action.”
PORT OF FELIXSTOWE: OPERATIONAL UPDATE FRIDAY 19 AUGUST
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