Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
WE’LL MAKE DOCK STRIKE GO GLOBAL
World workers ‘to black port’s ships’
UNIONS are threatening to cripple Britain’s largest port with the help of dockers around the globe.
Felixstowe is already reeling from a week-long strike with 1,900 workers demanding a 12% rise.
But now a union national officer claims workers in the US, Europe and Australia are set to help the strikers by refusing to load and unload ships from the Suffolk port if its owners do not agree to wage demands by Tuesday.
And it could mean Felixstowe’s losses in trade could top £1billion after a week of walkouts that have already cost around £680million.
Bobby Morton, Unite national docks officer, said: “I’ve already spoken to overseas unions and they’re indicating they’re ready to help us. Felixstowe will have no work whatsoever.
“The action will last until I tell people to call it off.”
Current strike action is due to finish tomorrow at the port which processes almost half of the UK’s container goods.
Asked if its financial losses
could reach £1billion, Mr Morton said: “Yes, that’s not stretching it at all.”
He also claimed further disruption could be combined with Liverpool where more than 500 have voted to strike. Workers at both could walk out on September 19, with Liverpool ships also blocked globally.
He added: “Stewards from both ports are meeting this weekend.”
Mr Morton said he had discussed global action with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union in the US, the Maritime Union of Australia and The Netherlands TUC.
“We will give Felixstowe Port the chance to meet us,” he added. He said he had “conceded” a 10% rise would be acceptable. Unite has already turned down a 7% pay offer from port bosses.
Dutch dockers’ national secretary Niek Stam yesterday confirmed support for international action. He said: “We sent the declaration of solidarity to Unite on Thursday.”
A Port of Felixstowe spokesman said: “Many employees have told us that they want to come to work but feel
uncomfortable to do so.”
Overseas unions are indicating that they’ll help us BOBBY MORTON UNITE NATIONAL DOCKS OFFICER