Unite Calling Notice/Photo Opportunity

What: Workers at port of Felixstowe hold protest in defence of seven Unite members and reps

When: 8.00am Monday 5 December 2022

Where: Gate 1, Port of Felixstowe, IP11 3SY

Protest at port of Felixstowe to end bullying management culture and to defend union reps 

One union rep victimised for failing to say ‘good morning’

Workers protest and begin voting in consultative strike ballot

Union chief calls on port of Felixstowe to end attempts to intimidate union reps and get serious about negotiations 

 

Workers Protest 

Hundreds of workers from the port of Felixstowe will hold a protest in defence of seven Unite members and Unite reps who have been victimised by “malicious” bosses. Seven workers have been victimised on trumped up charges, including one union rep who the company is attempting to suspend for failing to say ‘good morning’ to a manager.

Strike Ballot

A consultative ballot for industrial action will get underway on Monday 5 December to demand the immediate reinstatement of the seven.

Wage dispute 

Over 1,900 Unite members took strike action at the Port of Felixstowe between August and October and are still in dispute. But management bullying and intimidation against a number of union reps and members has opened up a new but completely avoidable front in this long running dispute. 

Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham said: “It’s clear the Felixstowe bosses think they can intimidate the union and its reps. They are adopting bully-boy tactics because they are panicking about the dispute. Unite cannot and will not accept the victimisation of our union members. The trumped-up charges against those who have been prominent in fighting for a new deal must be dropped. The management need to stop playing games and get serious about real negotiations”.

Messages of solidarity and support can be sent to the Felixstowe 7 at: [email protected]

Britain’s largest container port, Felixstowe is ultimately owned by the multi-national port operator CK Hutchison, which is registered in the Cayman Islands. Forensic analysis of CK Hutchison continues to expose the conglomerate’s profiteering across Britain, from docks to energy and water to telecommunications.

ENDS

For media enquiries ONLY please contact Ciaran Naidoo 07768 931 315

Email: [email protected]

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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.