Two week pay strike from Monday to go ahead after talks end in chaos 

Peel Ports’ board continues to refuse to give workers a decent pay rise whilst profits soar. 

The union has in good faith been at the negotiating table with management to thrash out a deal: A deal the company has now reneged on. 

It was believed the deal would be accepted by the workforce. However, any chance to halt the industrial action has been lost after Peel Ports’ board intervened to stop the deal, which had been agreed in principle, from going ahead. 

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The Unite team negotiated in good faith with Peel Ports. But the talks ended in farce, with the deal agreed between Unite and senior management being pulled by the board. Strike action by our members and with the full support of Unite will go ahead.  

“Peel Ports’ untrustworthy behaviour and its attempts to threaten the workforce are only escalating the dispute.” 

Since the strikes at the docks began on 19 September, the workers have been subject to job threats despite plans to expand the port and untrue statements exaggerating the amount the company has offered as a pay increase. 

Peel Ports has paid out £300 million in dividends over the last five years and recently recorded pre-tax profits of £141 million.

Unite national officer Robert Morton said: “Our members resolve is only increasing with every new low the company sinks to. They know Peel Ports can afford to pay a proper increase and that is what has to happen.”

ENDS 

For media enquires ONLY contact Unite communications officer Ryan Fletcher on 07849 090215.

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Unite is Britain and Ireland’s largest union with members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham.