Friday, March 29

Second day of strike in the largest British freight port in the face of the price increase crisis


Nearly 2,000 workers at the English port of Felixstowe, the UK’s largest shipping facility and which handles almost half of the country’s container traffic, began an eight-day strike on Sunday to demand better pay conditions.

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This is the first forceful measure adopted by the unions in Felixstowe since 1989, and joins other strikes called in recent days by other sectors, such as rail or London underground transport.

The stoppage, supported by almost 2,000 workers at this important British port, will affect its operations until August 29.

The Unite union has assured that its representatives have rejected the offer of a 7% salary increase, considering it “significantly below” inflation, which rose to 10.1% in July, its highest level in more than 40 years .

The port of Felixstowe has indicated in a statement that it is “disappointed” by the union’s rejection of its salary offer and although it has recognized that the strike will be an “inconvenience”, it has assured that “it will not be a catastrophe”.

A profitable port

After the coronavirus pandemic, Felixstowe explained, the supply chain is now “used” to various disruptions: “It’s the new normal.” For her part, the general secretary of Unite, Sharon Graham, recalled that this port is “hugely profitable”, as evidenced by the fact that “it obtained profits of 61 million pounds in 2020” (72 million euros). “It can be allowed to offer workers a decent salary increase,” stressed the union leader.

Felixstowe, on the east coast of England, manages 4 million TEUs (a 20-foot container equivalent unit) each year and benefits from its proximity to European ports such as Le Havre (France), Antwerp (Belgium) and Rotterdam (Countries Low).

60% of the commercial traffic between the United Kingdom and Asia also passes through its facilities. The wage earners called to strike include longshoremen, crane operators and other machinery.





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