Felixstowe faces another strike action as pay hikes dispute continues

PHOTO: Container handling facility at the Trinity terminal in Felixstowe. Port of Felixstowe

Around 2,000 dockworkers at Britain’s Felixstowe port will go on strike from 27 September to 5 October as a pay dispute between workers and the Felixstowe Dock and Railway Company continues.

The workers, represented by Unite union, have rejected a 7% pay hike offered by the company, saying the offer is much lower than the current inflation rate.

There are concerns that the strike could disrupt vessel movements and cargo handling in the UK’s largest container port. A previous eight-day strike action last month brought the port's operations to a standstill.  

“Further strike action will inevitably lead to delays and disruption to the UK’s supply chain but this is entirely of the company’s own making,” Unite national officer for docks Bobby Morton said.

The eight-day strike action at Felixstowe will coincide with a two-week strike by Liverpool port workers, which is set to commence on 19 September.

By Shilpa Sharma

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