Felixstowe /
The eight-day strike begins this Sunday in UK’s largest cargo portthe latest episode in a wave of strikes across several sectors to demand higher wages in the face of record inflation of 10%.
After three consecutive days of strikes that disrupted transportation, particularly rail, it is now the port of Felixstowe that has been affected.
This is the first strike since 1989 andn this port in the east of England, through which about four million containers pass each year.
About 1,900 members labor unionincluding crane and machine operators as well as dockworkers, have left jobs for higher wages, amid a major crisis in Britain’s purchasing power.
It inflation hit 10.1% year-on-year in July and could exceed 13% in October, the highest level for a G7 country.
“Felixstowe is very profitable. The latest figures show that in 2020 it generated a profit of 61 million pounds (72 million euros, USD 72 million)” said Unite Secretary General Sharon Graham.
“The parent company, CK Hutchison Holding Ltd, is so rich that in the same year it distributed £99 million to its shareholders. Therefore, they can give Felixstowe workers a proper raise“, he added.
The company, for its part, said it had proposed a seemingly “fair” pay increase for it, 8% on average, and about 10% for the lowest pay.
The port authority said in turn it “regrets the impact this action will have on the UK distribution chain” and says it is working with its customers “to limit disruption”.
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