Workers at Felixstowe, the UK's biggest container port, will walk out for eight days from August 21 to August 29
Nearly half of the UK's container traffic comes from Felixstowe and the strike, which will involve more than 1,900 union members, will hit the UK's supply chain, logistics and transport sectors, as well as international maritime trade, the union said.
The general strike is understood to have been triggered by the failure of the employer, the Felixstowe Terminal operator, to increase its offer of a 7% pay rise, compared with 1.4% last year
However, the port of Frixstowe said the workers involved in the dispute now earn an average of £43,000 a year.
It is the latest round of industrial action by workers demanding pay rises to keep up with the cost of living.
Bobby Morton, national officer of the union Unite, said: "Strike action will be hugely disruptive and will have a huge impact on supply chains across the UK, but this dispute is entirely of the company's own making.
"It had every opportunity to make a fair offer to our members but chose not to do so. Felixstowe needs to stop prevarication and offer compensation that meets the expectations of our members."
Post time: Aug-11-2022