Speaking at the picket line today (Wednesday 24 August), on the fourth day of the Felixstowe dock strike, Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham, pledged to turn the union’s force on exposing CK Hutchison, the global company based in Hong Kong, which is the ultimate owner of Felixstowe Ports.

Forensic research

Sharon Graham said: “Every single client, every investor, every decision maker at CK Hutchison is being looked into.

 “I will be inviting the shareholders at CK Hutchison, the clients of CK Hutchison, the decision makers of CK Hutchison to meetings with me, to open the books on what is going on. The company refusal to settle the union claim is about corporate greed.

 “The ultimate owner of CK Hutchison is Li-Ka Shing, Hong Kong’s richest businessman and the 32nd richest man in the world. All of the accounts of Li-Ka Shing are being looked into. All the tax havens in the Cayman Islands, are being investigated.”

Billionaire owner

According to the influential Forbes business magazine Li-Ka Shing is worth $35 billion (£29.8billion). CK Hutchison is the world’s leading port owner/developer, it holds interests in 52 ports in 26 countries. Its most recent accounts show it had a turnover, in 2021, of £30 billion. It is Hong Kong based and listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange. The company is registered in the Cayman Islands.

Company making fortune

Addressing the striking dockworkers Sharon Graham added: “The company [Felixstowe Ports] is making an absolute fortune. it could pay 50 per cent more on your wages and still be in profit. We are asking for 10 per cent. What is the problem?

 “The company need to come clean and open the books about their untold billions.”

 ENDS

 Notes to editors

 Forbes Li-Ka Shing

https://www.forbes.com/profile/li-ka-shing/?sh=9ec6826523f5

For media enquiries ONLY please contact Unite senior communications officer Barckley Sumner on 07802 329235 or 0203 371 2067.

Email: [email protected]

Unite is the UK and Ireland’s leading union fighting to protect and advance jobs, pay and conditions for members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham.