Liverpool port strike goes ahead as parties fail to reach agreement

Dockworkers at the Port of Liverpool have rejected the employer’s latest pay offer, confirming a two-week long strike threatening more disruptions across the UK supply chain.

As reported by Bloomberg, a unanimous vote took place on 12 September.

Port operatives and the engineering department have turned down Peel Ports Ltd.’s proposal of a 7 per cent wage increase and a one-time payment of £750 ($875).

The walkout will take place between 6:00 am Monday 19 September and 6:00 am Monday 3 October.

Workers at MDHC container services at Peel Ports voted in August in favour of the strike. In a ballot with an 88 per cent turnout, 99 per cent voted for strike action.

Liverpool’s dockworkers have been fighting for pay increase amid soaring inflation, which has raised above 10 per cent.

Businesses are preparing for disruption resulting from industrial action. The Irish Exporters Association has warned customers of potential impacts on export volume and supply chain.

Just recently, the Port of Felixstowe received notice from Unite the union of further strike action, which is to take place at the same time of that at Liverpool.

The news has raised major concerns as the simultaneous industrial actions threaten to staunch the flow of more than half of the UK’s container exports and imports.

The uptick in congestion following strike action at the UK’s Port of Felixstowe has already signalled worrying signs for Liverpool.

Analysis from VesselsValue suggests that UK shippers should adjust their logistics plans for the two-week industrial action taking place at the Port of Liverpool.

Over 1,900 members of the Unite union have already gone on strike at the Port of Felixstowe between 21 August until 29 August in a dispute about a pay increase.

In the latest round of collective bargaining, Unite the union – representing staff at the port – rejected the port’s management offer after it refused to improve its pay offer and announced it was imposing a pay deal of 7 per cent on the workforce instead.