More than 500 port workers have voted to strike over a seven per cent pay offer.
Union Unite said it amount to a real terms pay cut.
In a ballot with an 88 per cent turnout, 99 per cent voted for strike action.
Unite states that the strikes, the dates of which have not yet been set, will bring Liverpool container port, one of the largest in the country, ‘grinding to a halt’.
The workers are employed at MDHC Container Services, which is part of the Peel Group.
Maintenance engineers at MDHC could also go on strike over the same pay offer.
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An industrial ballot of more than 60 engineering staff opened on Monday August 15 and closes on August 24.
Unite said that the strikes by either group of workers will have a severe impact on both shipping and road transport in Liverpool and the surrounding areas.
Unite national coordinator Steven Gerrard said: “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.”
Richard Mitchell, Port Director Liverpool Containers at Peel Ports Group, said the offer of 7 per cent is on top of a rise of 4.5 per cent 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.
"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."
More than 1,900 Port of Felixstowe workers, who are members of Unite, are also taking strike action later this month over pay.
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