Warship caught up in strike threat

The UK’S newest and biggest ship may be stopped from leaving its home port – after threats of a pay strike from tug boat crews.

Staff at Serco Marine Serv- ices, which employ HMS Queen’s Elizabeth’s 350 tug boat crew, have slammed the pay offer they have received as “derisory”.

Unite, the country’s largest union, has warned that if its members vote for strike action, the first casualty would be the £3.1 billion Queen Elizabeth. This, in turn, would leave the 65,000-tonne vessel unable to leave Portsmouth Harbourasschedulednextmonth.

Unite national officer Bobby Morton said: “If our members vote for strike action it will create waves industrially.”