More than 1,900 members of the Unite union in Felixstowe will strike for eight days from Sunday 21 August to Monday 29 August. The union said employer Felixstowe Dock and Railway Company had failed to improve its offer of a 7 per cent pay rise, after only a 1.4 per cent rise last year. Almost half of the UK’s container traffic goes through Felixstowe and Unite said the action would hit supply chains, the logistics and transport sectors, as well as international maritime trade. It’s the latest round of industrial action by workers pushing for pay to keep up with the cost of living. Dockers Union boss Bobby Morton said: “The strike will cause huge disruption and send huge shockwaves across the UK supply chain, but this dispute is entirely business. “He had every opportunity to make our members a fair offer but chose not to. “Felixstowe needs to stop criticizing and make a pay offer that meets the expectations of our members.” “Hugely profitable and incredibly rich” Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said both Felixstowe Docks and its Hong Kong-based parent company CK Hutchison were “massively profitable and incredibly wealthy”, adding: “They are fully able to pay the workers potential a fair pay. “The company has prioritized delivering multi-million pound dividends rather than paying its workers a decent wage. “Unite is fully focused on improving the jobs, pay and conditions of its members and will give the workers in Felixstowe its full support until this dispute is resolved and a decent pay rise is secured.” More talks are expected to take place on Monday, August 8. Read more: London Underground strike notice for August 19 over jobs and pensions Two more days of rail strikes over jobs, pay and conditions The Department for Transport and the company have both been contacted for comment. Felixstowe welcomes about 2,000 ships each year, according to its website, including some of the largest container ships in the world. About 17 shipping lines operate from the port, offering 33 services to and from more than 700 ports around the world.
