Hundreds of Port of Liverpool workers are to walk out after rejecting what their union has described as an “inadequate” pay offer.
More than 500 port operatives from Mersey Docks and Harbour Company (MDHC) have voted in favour of a strike in response to a 7% pay offer made by the company as well as what they describe as a failure to honour its 2021 pay agreement and failing to deliver on an agreement to improve shift rotas. In a ballot of Unite the Union members, 99% backed a proposal to walk out on an 88% turnout.
A date for the industrial action has yet to be set, according to Unite, which said the 7% offer represented a real terms pay cut. The strikes are the latest in a series of walkouts by unions across Merseyside this year, with bus drivers from Arriva and RMT members on Merseyrail leaving their posts in a dispute over pay and conditions.
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MDHC is part of the Peel Group which operates the Port of Liverpool. The workers undertake all forms of port operations and are fully involved in the loading and unloading of the containers on site.
A ballot of maintenance engineers from the same location are also considering industrial action over the same pay offer. An industrial ballot of more than 60 engineering staff opened yesterday and closes on August 24.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “What’s happening at MDHC is another example of why workers in this country have had enough.
“Our members at MDHC have Unite’s complete backing and support in these strikes for a fair pay rise.”
Steve Gerrard, Unite national coordinator, added: “The responsibility for Liverpool container docks grinding to a halt will lie firmly with MDHC. Our members are struggling with rising living costs, yet MDHC, which is awash with cash, puts forward a completely inadequate offer. It needs to come back with a deal that meets our members' expectations.”
In response to the ballot result, Richard Mitchell, port director Liverpool Containers at Peel Ports Group, said the company appreciated workers’ concerns on the cost of living. He said: “Our offer of 7% is on top of a rise of 4.5% last year and includes other improvements to shifts, sick pay and pensions, which further complements a decade of industry leading pay awards.
“We’ve recruited an additional 150 staff for Port of Liverpool container operations over the last 12 months, investing significantly in training and safety, and today Peel Ports’ port operatives earn about 20% more than the Liverpool City Region average salary.
“We urge Unite the Union to keep talking with us so together we can find a resolution to avoid action that will be bad news for the sector, businesses and families, with the effects being felt for many months to come, at a time when container volume demand has started to reduce.”
Mr Mitchell said the firm had offered a 7% increase to basic pay and an increase to the night work allowance to £30 per week. He added: “Our proposals would mean a combined pay increase of between 16% and 25% over the last three years, subject to different roles within the port, which include individual pay progression rates, a 3% rise in 2020 and a further 4.5% pay rise in 2021.”
“The entire industry faces volume stagnation due to ongoing issues with world-wide economic pressures, the conflict in Ukraine and global shipping disruption. Strike action during this time is not helpful to anyone and risks further disrupting an already volatile supply chain.”
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