The ability to move products from A to B has been affected by COVID and Brexit-related bottlenecks in recent years, as well as rising concerns about the environmental impact of how companies supply our goods. The unpredictability of global markets has continued to affect logistics in 2022. In addition to increased congestion at ports around the world, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has created “the most significant disruption to geo-political "norms” for decades", says global shipping firm Clarksons.
Supply chain issues have added to the cost of living crisis in the UK this year by making it more difficult and expensive to transport products like food around the world. But another new challenge to supply chain capabilities has recently emerged in the form of the industrial action spreading across various UK industries. Transport, rail in particular, has been the focus of strike activity in recent months, with attention mostly on the disruption faced by passengers. Freight transportation has also been impacted, however, not least because large parts of the UK’s transport infrastructure are shared by passenger and freight systems.
Freight transportation and logistics workers at the UK port of Felixstowe recently announced plans for eight days of industrial action. Nearly 2,000 workers are due to start striking on August 21 in a pay dispute that recently saw them reject a 7% pay rise and £500 bonus from Felixstowe Dock and Railway Company.
