Nearly 2,000 Port Felixstowe workers begin eight-day wage strike, sparking fears of supply chain disruptions | UK News
Nearly 2,000 workers left their jobs at the UK’s largest container port on the first day of an eight-day workers’ strike, in the latest wave of industrial action affecting sectors. differences in the economy.
The attack at the port of Felixstowe on the east coast ended a week of witness various strikes by thousands of transport workers in wage disputes, such as cost of living crisis the bite.
Some 1,900 Unite members, including crane drivers, machine operators and loader workers, will join the first strike to destroy the port since 1989, after more than ninety-one votes in favor.
The union has warned a stop at the port, which handles nearly half of all container goods entering the country, will have a significant impact on the UK supply chain and logistics and transport sectors.
However, a source from the port played down the warning, telling the PA news agency that the strikes would be an “inconvenience not a disaster”.
He claims that the supply chain is used for post-pandemic disruption.
He added: “Disruption is the new normal. The supply chain has moved from ‘just in time to being precautionary’.”
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said the Felixstowe harbor was “hugely profitable”.
She said: “The latest figures show that in 2020 the company has made £61m.
“Its parent company, CK Hutchison Holding Ltd, is so rich that, in the same year, it spent £99 million on its shareholders.
“So they can give Felixstowe workers a decent raise,” she argues.
The Port of Felixstowe said it was “disappointed” Unite did not “come to the table for constructive discussion to find a solution”.
“We recognize these are difficult times but … we believe the company’s offer, which averages over 8% … is fair,” it said in a statement.
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“The Port regrets the impact this action has had on the UK supply chain … there will be no winners from this unnecessary industrial action,” it added.
According to the company, the Port Felixstowe employees union, which represents about 500 positions, voted to accept the same salary that Unite refused to offer its members.
