1,900 dock workers of U.K.’s biggest port go on strike for not getting pay at par with inflation
More than 1,900 workers at United Kingdom’s (U.K.’s) container port – Felixstowe went on an 8-day strike today i.e., Sunday, August 21, 2022, over a pay dispute which they said is lower than the rate of inflation.
These workers are the members of ‘Unite’ Union. They rejected a 7% pay offer from Felixstowe Dock and Railway Company, which they said was below the rate of inflation. The striking workers include crane drivers, machine operators and stevedores who load and unload ships.
The Union is demanding higher wages because of rising cost of living. This is the first time that dock workers have gone on strike in 30 years.
Brexit, increased electricity bills triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and commitment by European Union (E.U.) and U.K. to reduce dependency on Russian fuel, are responsible for increasing the inflation.
Speaking on the occasion, the Union’s National Officer for Docks, Unite – Bobby Morton said, “Strike action will cause huge disruption and will generate massive shockwaves throughout the UK’s supply chain, but this dispute is entirely of the company’s own making.”
He further said, “It [the company] has had every opportunity make our members a fair offer but has chosen not to do so.”
Taking it to twitter, the General Secretary of Unite – Graham Sharon tweeted,
The latest figures show in 2020 Felixstowe docks made £61m in profits. Its parent company is so wealthy that, in the same year, it handed out £99m to shareholders. They can well afford to give a decent pay raise & Unite will back workers until they get the pay they deserve. pic.twitter.com/hBDegISQND
— Sharon Graham (@UniteSharon) August 21, 2022
She further tweeted,
Felixstowe Docks & its associated companies have been prioritising profits & dividends instead of giving workers a decent share of the pie. They are siphoning off tens of millions of pounds offshore to its Hong Kong-based parent company, almost every year. https://t.co/QpxSud9GXr
— Sharon Graham (@UniteSharon) August 21, 2022
The twitter handle of Unite tweeted,
Shame on the Port of Felixstowe, millions in the bank. Yet a pay cut for dockers. Unite says no way! #SupporttheStrike. Support dockers defending #JobsPayConditions. On strike from today (21/08) for eight days.
— Unite the union: join a union (@unitetheunion) August 21, 2022
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#dockersdemandbetter pic.twitter.com/8LYQVjbuVb
Earlier, on Friday, Felixstowe’s Operator – Hutchison Ports said it believed its offer of a 7% pay rise and a lump sum of 500 pounds (U.S. $ 604) was fair. It said the Port’s Workers Union, which represents about 500 staff in supervisory, engineering and clerical roles, had accepted the deal. The Port said it would have a contingency plan in place, and was working to minimise disruption during the walkouts which will last until August 29, 2022.
Shipping group – Maersk, one of the world’s biggest container shippers, has warned the action would have a significant impact, causing operational delays and forcing it to make changes to its vessel line-up.
U.K.’s consumer price inflation hit 10.1% in July 2022, the highest since February 1982. The economists forecast that it will hit 15% in the first 3-months of 2023 amidst surging energy and food costs. The squeeze on household incomes has already led to strikes by the likes of rail and bus workers demanding higher pay rises.
