Attacking the port of Felixstowe to continue after negotiations broke down | Business Newsletter
An eight-day strike at the UK’s biggest container port is set to go ahead after talks between bosses and unions broke down.
More than 1,900 Unite members will go on strike from Sunday, August 21 to Monday, August 29. dissatisfied with the 7% salary increase offered by the Felixstowe Railway and Dock Company after a 1.4% increase last year.
A spokesman for the port authority said: “We are very disappointed and sorry that despite our best efforts, we were still unable to reach an agreement with Unite’s hourly branch.
“During yesterday’s negotiations, the port further improved its position, offering a lump sum of £500 plus 7%.
“The employee branch of Unite and the Felixstowe Railway and Dock Company Police Federation have agreed to make a similar offer to their members.
“In contrast, Unite’s hourly branch has once again rejected the port’s improved position and refused to hand it over to its members.
“We encourage them to consult their members on the latest offer as soon as possible. There will be no winner from a strike that will only result in their members being lost. the amount they would otherwise have earned.
“Our focus is on finding a solution that works for our employees and protects the future success of the port. The union has rejected the company’s offer to meet again.”
Read more:
Who will strike this month and when?
Unite country official Robert Morton said: “The Felixstowe docks are hugely profitable. In 2020 alone, it raked in £61m in pre-tax profits and paid out £99m in dividends.
“It could have afforded to make a reasonable salary offer to our members but again they chose not to do so.
“That decision was motivated by needless greed. Unite’s door remains open for further negotiations but strike action will go ahead unless the company makes an offer to which the members make an offer.” our member can accept.”
Almost half of the UK’s container traffic arrives via Felixstowe and Unite said the move would affect the supply chain, logistics and transport sectors, as well as international maritime trade.
This is the latest wave of industrial action by workers pushing for pay to keep up with the rising cost of living.
