Union admits supply chain will be ‘severely disrupted’ as port workers go on strike

Strikes at the UK’s largest container port will see the supply chain “severely disrupted”, the head of Unite has said, as he warns “there will be more strikes”.

Almost 2,000 workers have walked out of their jobs on the second of an eight-day workers’ strike – the latest in a summer of industrial action.

About 1,900 members of Unite, including crane drivers, machine operators and stevedores, are taking part in the first strike to disrupt the port in 31 years, following a more than nine-one vote in favour.

Unite national officer Robert Morton told Sky News: “The supply chain will be severely disrupted, I accept that. That’s one of the unfortunate parts of things like this.

“It could be over this afternoon if the employer agreed to meet us for real-time negotiations.

“The last message they gave to us is that ‘yes, we will meet you, but no, we will not move our position one inch’.

“That’s the wrong approach.”

He added: “If we don’t achieve what we’re trying to achieve, there will be more strikes.”

The union is asking for a pay rise in line with inflation – which currently stands at 12.3%. Workers had previously been offered a 7% increase, as well as a £500 lump sum payment.

This offer has not been put towards members, but Mr Morton said that is because “at the beginning of the negotiations we asked them what they wanted and they said, ‘we want you to go and negotiate and come back with at least the rate of inflation. If it’s anything less than that, then don’t bring it back’.”

Mr Morton said a “figure between 7% and 12.3%” will be “acceptable to my membership”.

After offering the pay deal, Paul Davey, head of corporate affairs at the port of Felixstowe, told Sky News: “The pay deal we’re talking about now only runs until the end of this year. On the first of January, there is another pay deal. So we can deal with future inflation next year.

“The deal we have offered them is a lot better than the vast majority of people are getting and also you know we’re pleased and we are proud that we pay very well here at the port of Felixstowe.”

He said the average pay is 40% more than the national average.

In response to the offer being much more than that offered to NHS staff, Mr Morton said: “I can’t talk for NHS staff or whatever they are offered or given but it’s relative to the job that you do.

“I think that the NHS staff should be paid more than anyone else actually, but our members are working (outside) in all kinds of weather, they’re very highly skilled people and I think they deserve more from the company who is making massive profits.

“My message to them is ‘if you can pay it, then do so’.”

The strike rounds off a week that saw various strikes by thousands of transport workers in disputes over pay, as the cost of living crisis bites.