Closing summary
Time to recap
Unions have warned that the strike at Britain’s largest container port will escalate unless workers are given an improved pay offer, which could lead to disruption until Christmas.
Felixstowe port workers are holding the fourth day of an eight-day walkout, in a pay dispute.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham told them:
“The company [Felixstowe Ports] is making an absolute fortune. it could pay 50 per cent more on your wages and still be in profit. We are asking for 10 per cent. What is the problem?
Felixstowe handles around 40% of UK container traffic, so the industrial unrest could disrupt supply chains.
Asked if disruption could continue until Christmas, she said: “I think in a sense that’s a question for the employer in some ways”, adding:
“Yes, obviously and unfortunately I have to say, if they don’t come back to the table this action will continue, and that’s not good for the public, it certainly isn’t good for these workers and I’d also say it’s not good for the employer.”
In other news…
The TUC is calling for the UK’s minimum wage should be increased to £15 an hour as soon as possible to help millions of low-paid workers struggling amid the cost of living crisis.
The energy industry’s favoured plan to shield Britain’s households from the soaring cost of energy will cost more than £100bn over two years, according to the boss of one of the UK’s largest power operators.
But Rishi Sunak, the underdog in the race to become the next Conservative party leader, said he was “nervous and sceptical” about Scottish Power’s proposal to freeze bills, and cover the cost through government borrowing or higher bills in future years.
The Isle of Man’s government has taken action, though – agreeing to freeze electricity prices until March 2023 to shield residents and businesses from a sharp increase in bills this winter.
More than 3 million households in England and Wales were still waiting to receive the £150 energy rebate on 1 July, research has found, several months after the scheme to help pay for soaring gas and electricity bills was launched.
UK imports from Russia have hit a record low, with no Russian fuel being shipped into Britain for the first time on record.
Britain has stopped importing energy from Russia. A historic milestone.
— Samuel Ramani (@SamRamani2) August 24, 2022
Oil prices have rallied after Saudi Arabia hinted that Opec could cut production, pushing Brent crude back over $100/barrel.
Thousands more homeowners who paid a doubled ground rent on their property will get a refund after the competition watchdog cracked down on “unfair” leasehold practices.
Asda is to remove “best before” dates from almost 250 fresh fruit and vegetable products as it joins a movement among supermarkets to help customers cut waste and save money.
Updated
Unite have also warned Felixstowe Ports’ owner, multi-national giant CK Hutchison, that they will ‘expose’ its corporate greed.
Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham, says “very single client, every investor, every decision maker at CK Hutchison” is being looked into.
“The ultimate owner of CK Hutchison is Li-Ka Shing, Hong Kong’s richest businessman and the 31st richest man in the world. All of the accounts of Li-Ka Shing are being looked into. All the tax havens in the Cayman Islands, are being investigated.”
Addressing the striking dockworkers today, Graham added:
“The company [Felixstowe Ports] is making an absolute fortune. it could pay 50 per cent more on your wages and still be in profit. We are asking for 10 per cent. What is the problem?
