Workers at the Port of Felixstowe, the UK’s largest container port, have confirmed strike action for eight days starting later this month. 1,900 workers are expected to take part as they dispute pay conditions. Supply-chain issues already facing the construction sector could be exacerbated as a result.
Around 1,900 workers at the port are unhappy with their current pay package and have rejected the 7% pay rise offered to them by Felixstowe Dock and Rail Company. This came after the company initially offered its employees a 5% rise.
Unite the Union has warned of “massive shockwaves” to come through the UK’s supply chain as a result. Supplies of materials to construction sites have already been disrupted as a result of previous events, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Train strikes have also taken place in the last two months, leading to delays in the delivery of materials.
Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said:
“Both Felixstowe Dock and its parent company, CK Hutchison Holding Ltd, are both massively profitable and incredibly wealthy. They are fully able to pay the workforce a fair day’s pay. The company has prioritised delivering multi-million-pound dividends rather than paying its workers a decent wage.”
The Port of Felixstowe transports 48% of containers brought into the UK. As a result, the strike action expected to last from 21 August to 29 August will have a drastic effect on the UK’s supply chain.
Bobby Morton at Unite’s national office for docks 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. It has had every opportunity [to] make our members a fair offer, but has chosen not to do so.”
In a vote amongst the workers at the port, 92% voted in favour of strike action. This was the result of the vote even with the understanding and warning that the logistics and haulage sectors were to be severely affected, as well as disruption to international maritime trade.
Deputy chief executive of the Construction Products Association, Jeff May, warned:
“Felixstowe has struggled to get on top of a wide range of issues impacting deliveries for several years now. Since 2021, our members have responded by increasingly relying on other ports, such as Tilbury. And, while some sectors such as bathroom and electrical goods continue to suffer serious problems with shipping en route, in general, the issues around availability of imported products have improved from a year ago.”
The Port of Felixstowe has not undergone strike action since 1989. A spokesperson at the port highlighted his disappointment “that the union has served notice of industrial action while talks are ongoing”. The spokesperson maintained “the port provides secure and well-paid employment”, concluding “there will be no winners from industrial action”.