Workers at UK’s largest container port begin week-long strike
Some 1,900 members of the Unite Union will take part in the industrial action at the Felixstowe Port in the east of England following disputes over pay rise.
(Reuters)
Workers at Britain’s biggest container port, Felixstowe, began an eight-day strike over pay, in the latest industrial action.
Nearly 2,000 unionised employees at the port in eastern England, including crane drivers, machine operators and stevedores, started their walkout on Sunday morning in the first strike at Felixstowe since 1989.
It comes amid stoppages over pay and working conditions across various UK industries, with railway workers just the latest to strike on Thursday and Saturday this week.
Postal workers plan a four-day strike later this month, Telecoms giant BT will face its first stoppage in decades while Amazon warehouse staff, criminal lawyers and refuse collectors are among the others staging walkouts.
READ MORE: Why are thousands of workers striking in the UK?
Demand for pay rise
The Unite union representing the striking Felixstowe staff said the stoppage will have a big impact at the port, which handles around four million containers a year from 2,000 ships.
The union wants pay rises for its members, arguing the docks are “enormously profitable”.
“They can give Felixstowe workers a decent pay raise,” said Unite general secretary Sharon Graham, who added that parent company, CK Hutchison Holding Ltd, handed out nearly 100 million ($121 million) to shareholders in 2020.
READ MORE: Thousands of workers halt UK railways as summer of strikes continue
The Port of Felixstowe said in a statement that it was “disappointed” the walkout had gone ahead and called its offer of salary increases of on average 8 percent “fair”.
“The port provides secure and well-paid employment and there will be no winners from this unnecessary industrial action,” it added.
Source: AFP
Some 1,900 members of the Unite Union will take part in the industrial action at the Felixstowe Port in the east of England following disputes over pay rise.
(Reuters)
Workers at Britain’s biggest container port, Felixstowe, began an eight-day strike over pay, in the latest industrial action.
Nearly 2,000 unionised employees at the port in eastern England, including crane drivers, machine operators and stevedores, started their walkout on Sunday morning in the first strike at Felixstowe since 1989.
It comes amid stoppages over pay and working conditions across various UK industries, with railway workers just the latest to strike on Thursday and Saturday this week.
Postal workers plan a four-day strike later this month, Telecoms giant BT will face its first stoppage in decades while Amazon warehouse staff, criminal lawyers and refuse collectors are among the others staging walkouts.
READ MORE: Why are thousands of workers striking in the UK?
Demand for pay rise
The Unite union representing the striking Felixstowe staff said the stoppage will have a big impact at the port, which handles around four million containers a year from 2,000 ships.
The union wants pay rises for its members, arguing the docks are “enormously profitable”.
“They can give Felixstowe workers a decent pay raise,” said Unite general secretary Sharon Graham, who added that parent company, CK Hutchison Holding Ltd, handed out nearly 100 million ($121 million) to shareholders in 2020.
READ MORE: Thousands of workers halt UK railways as summer of strikes continue
The Port of Felixstowe said in a statement that it was “disappointed” the walkout had gone ahead and called its offer of salary increases of on average 8 percent “fair”.
“The port provides secure and well-paid employment and there will be no winners from this unnecessary industrial action,” it added.
Source: AFP
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