Hapag-Lloyd reveals rotation changes to Asia-Europe CGX service
As carriers prepare for a new liner alliance landscape next year, moves are under way ...
CHRW: RUNNING HIGHMAERSK: STRONG HON: BREAK-UP APPEALCHRW: CLOSING QUESTIONSCHRW: HEADCOUNT RISK MID-TERM CHRW: SHOOTING UPCHRW: OPPORTUNISTIC CHRW: CFO REMARKSCHRW: GETTING THERE CHRW: SEEKING VALUABLE INSIGHTCHRW: 'FIT FAST AND FOCUSED' CHRW: INVESTOR DAY AMZN: NASDAQ RALLYKNIN: LOOKING DOWNPLD: FLIPPING ASSETSWTC: BOLT-ON DEAL
CHRW: RUNNING HIGHMAERSK: STRONG HON: BREAK-UP APPEALCHRW: CLOSING QUESTIONSCHRW: HEADCOUNT RISK MID-TERM CHRW: SHOOTING UPCHRW: OPPORTUNISTIC CHRW: CFO REMARKSCHRW: GETTING THERE CHRW: SEEKING VALUABLE INSIGHTCHRW: 'FIT FAST AND FOCUSED' CHRW: INVESTOR DAY AMZN: NASDAQ RALLYKNIN: LOOKING DOWNPLD: FLIPPING ASSETSWTC: BOLT-ON DEAL
A second port in the UK, Liverpool, could grind to a halt following a dockers’ vote to strike. Felixstowe stevedores are expected to begin an eight-day strike on 21 August.
The Liverpool and Felixstowe dockers are members of the Unite union, and a ballot of port engineer members is also under way and set to close on 24 August.
Unite said: “More than 500 port operatives will strike over an inadequate 7% pay offer,” calling it “a real-terms pay cut”.
The ballot of union members at Liverpool saw 99% vote in favour of a strike, on an 88% turnout.
Mersey Dock and Harbour Company, the Peel Ports subsidiary that runs Liverpool Port, made a £30m ($36.23m) profit last year.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “What’s happening at MDHC is another example of why workers in this country have had enough. Once again, a profitable company controlled by a tax-exiled billionaire is refusing to give its workers a cost-of-living pay rise.
“Our members at MDHC have Unite’s complete backing and support in these strikes for a fair pay rise.”
Peel Ports’ majority shareholder is UK tycoon John Whittaker, who, Unite claims, has amassed a £1.4bn fortune and, like his company, is based in the Isle of Man. Investment fund Australian Super is the group’s second largest investor, said the union.
Richard Mitchell, port director Liverpool containers at Peel Ports Group, said: “We fully appreciate our colleagues’ concerns on the rising cost of living. 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 Liverpool container operations over the past 12 months, investing significantly in training and safety, and today Peel Ports’ port operatives earn about 20% more than the Liverpool city region average.”
Peel Ports pointed to significant worker unrest “sweeping the nation” which has been caused by “factors beyond the control of individual businesses or even sectors”.
Mr Mitchell urged the union to keep talking with Peel Ports and MDHC.
“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.”
Peel Ports says it has offered:
The 500 Unite dockers in Liverpool are expected be joined by 60 maintenance engineers at the port after the ballot now taking place. Another 1,900 Unite members at the port of Felixstowe are expected to strike following the breakdown of negotiations and arbitration last week.
Comment on this article