The
UK faces the prospect of the first national dock strike in 14 years after the
T&G union confirmed that its members at Associated British Ports (ABP)
would be asked to vote on strike action over pay.
This
move follows the dockers, drivers and port workers
covering twenty three port operations across the UK
rejecting a 2.9 per cent pay offer by a majority of three to one.
The
union’s national organiser for transport, Graham Stevenson, described the offer
as “a wholly inadequate response” to the T&G’s
claim for a minimum wage of £7.50 an hour for all employees and £10 an hour for
drivers.
“This
result sends a very clear message to ABP that our members are serious about
fighting back this year to win realistic and meaningful improvements to wages
and conditions,” he said. “We are looking to raise not just the standard of
living of our members but to bring employment conditions into the 21st century.
If it takes a full national strike ballot to make progress so be it.”
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