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Dispute at Britain's Biggest Container Port Ends after Union UNITE Workers Accept 16% Pay Increase

14th December 2022
A long-running dispute at Britain's biggest container port of Felixstowe, has ended after workers from the trade union UNITE accepted a pay offer. Above Afloat captured containership OOCL Hong Kong alongside the east English port on the North Sea.
A long-running dispute at Britain's biggest container port of Felixstowe, has ended after workers from the trade union UNITE accepted a pay offer. Above Afloat captured containership OOCL Hong Kong alongside the east English port on the North Sea. Credit: Jehan Ashmore

The UK's biggest 'box'-boat port which has had a long-running dispute has ended after workers accepted a pay offer following strike action that first began almost four months ago. 

According to the Port of Felixstowe, more than 90% of workers had voted to accept a pay deal of 8.5% plus £1,000 from 1 January 2023.

The breakthrough in the container port in Suffolk, south-east England, which handles global and feeder services, follows a backdated 7% and £500 lump sum deal for 2022.

In both of the increases this will mean workers' basic pay will have risen by 16.1% from 2021 to 2023, before the two additional payments are considered.

The port's CEO Robert Ashton, said: "We are pleased to have reached an agreement on the 2023 pay deal.

"This is the earliest we have concluded an annual pay review and it provides welcome certainty and stability at a time when our employees, like everyone else, are facing an increase in the cost of living."

The port located on the North Sea reports ITV News has seen several shut downs since late summer when members of the union UNITE went on strike over pay.

For further reading on the resolution of the dispute click here.

Published in Ports & Shipping
Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals. 

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