Associated British Ports (ABP) has denied reports that possible strike action by members of the Transport and General Workers Union (T&G) will lead to closures across its ports operation nationwide.
ABP said industrial action by T&G members subject to collective bargaining would be “regrettable” but manageable. The company runs several large timber ports, including Hull and Immingham.
The T&G said it had notified ABP that the process of moving to a national postal ballot on strike action had started, following the rejection of a 2.9% pay offer by dockers, drivers and port workers at the company’s ports operations. It believes a 3.5% pay rise has been given to staff on personal contracts.
The union’s demands include a minimum hourly rate of £7.50 a hour; a £10 rate for drivers, and a one-hour reduction in the working week to 38 hours with no loss of pay.
A statement released by ABP said fewer than 300 of its employees out of a total of more than 3,000 were subject to collective bargaining.
“It would categorically not lead to the closure of any of ABP’s ports. For example, in the case of Southampton, fewer than 10 staff, none of whom are dock workers, are subject to collective bargaining under the agreement.”
ABP said it was seeking to maintain a constructive and open dialogue with all employees and union representatives.
