Liverpool dock workers start 2-week strike over pay dispute

LONDON

Hundreds of workers in Britain’s largest west coast dock have launched a two-week strike Monday evening due to a dispute over pay.

The industrial action in Liverpool port was due on Monday morning, but delayed until the evening due to the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, according to local media.

Hundreds of dock workers, mainly members of Unite union at the Port of Liverpool, rejected an offer of 8.3% pay rise with a one-off payment of £750 ($857), will continue to strike until Oct. 3 if an agreement cannot be reached, the Liverpool Echo reported.

The union said it was a real-terms pay cut because of the soaring rate of inflation and argued that the port’s owners could afford a higher increase.

“I am deeply disappointed Unite has rejected our significant pay package after many months of negotiation. This is bad news for our employees, families and other local employers,” David Huck, the port’s chief operating officer, was quoted by the paper.

Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham said: “Workers across the country are sick to death of being told to take a hit on their wages and living standards while employer after employer is guilty of rampant profiteering.”

She said the port’s owners needed to table a “reasonable offer and fulfil its previous pay promises.”

According to the union, more than 560 port operatives and engineers at the port are taking part in the industrial action.

The Liverpool dock workers’ strike has become the latest of the industrial actions due to cost of living crisis caused by higher inflation in the UK this summer.

Previous strikes were held by railway, council, post office workers and criminal barristers.

Inflation in the UK hit 10.1% in August, the highest rate in 40 years, according to the Office for National Statistics.