Felixstowe Docks in trouble?

worldtraveller

Ah well! Thankfully there's Thamesport. :rolleyes:

FungusFighter

Things are hotting up....:eek:


Wednesday, 23 December 2009

Port vote result expected this week


UNION officials at Britain's biggest container port will this week announce the result of a vote which could take the workforce to the brink of industrial action.
It is understood the 2,700-strong workforce at Felixstowe was offered a one per cent pay rise - after earlier this year accepting changes to contracts which meant a “temporary pay cut” of between six and 11 per cent, depending on their contract package.
An initial ballot organised by the union Unite overwhelmingly rejected the offer with nearly 1,600 workers against the one pc and less than 20 in favour.(16 in favour)
Union officials had apparently asked the company for a five pc pay increase plus a £500 lump sum for each worker to make up for the two days compulsory unpaid leave workers had to take this year as part of the earlier cuts.
Over the past few days, the four shifts at the port have been voting on whether they would be prepared to take part in a strike ballot.( It's industrial action that we are balloting on not strike!)
If they vote yes, a postal ballot on industrial action will be organised. If they vote no, the one pc pay rise will be accepted.
One port worker said: “People are very frustrated.“
The port made us take huge pay cuts because of the recession but the situation hasn't been as bad as they predicted.
“They said there would be no work and we had to make sacrifices to keep our jobs, but the quays have not been empty and we have had a busy year.”
Changes this year included the scrapping of all bonus schemes, compulsory unpaid leave, axing of the “hot seat” changeover payments, removal of canteen subsidies, and closure of the port on Boxing Day.
Phil Pemberton, convenor for Unite, formerly the Transport and General Workers' Union, was not available for comment.
Paul Davey, head of corporate affairs for the Port of Felixstowe, said the company did not comment on union ballots.


http://www.eadt.co.uk/content/eadt/news/story.aspx?brand=EADOnline&category=News&tBrand=EADOnline&tCategory=xDefault&itemid=IPED21%20Dec%202009%2000%3A14%3A07%3A160

FungusFighter

Chat_over wrote: »

I didn't manage to read all of the thread but I am looking forward to some good discussions on here.

Don't hold yer breath mate:beer:

blakester

Chat_over wrote: »

I will tell you now I do tend to air on the side of the bulls.

More like bull$hit in this thread.:D
Fungus Fighter I 've got to hand it to you for your persistance with this thread......or is it that you just enjoy bating your old mate Pickles;)

Snooze

Chat_over wrote: »

I didn't manage to read all of the thread but I am looking forward to some good discussions on here.

Welcome back Mr. Green Shoots ! :T Have you misplaced your pickles log-in details in the same place as your BTLnewbie one? You really should take more care. :rotfl:

R

FungusFighter

blakester wrote: »

More like bull$hit in this thread.:D
Fungus Fighter I 've got to hand it to you for your persistance with this thread......or is it that you just enjoy bating your old mate Pickles;)

That you would suggest such a thing mate, it's apublic interest story;)

For them wots interested, result of the ballot: 1577 for industrial action, 30 against and 2 void papers:eek::eek:

Could be a major strike coming up so stock up on your cheap Chinese tat now before supplies dry up folks!:rotfl:

mystic_trev

FungusFighter wrote: »

Could be a major strike coming up so stock up on your cheap Chinese tat now before supplies dry up folks!:rotfl:

Thanks Fungus - I've got enough Turkey to keep me going to next July, and I'm not really worried about Chinese tat! Thanks though for all the laughs you've given me over the past 12 months :rotfl:how you've never been PPR'd I'll never know!

Have a good one!

FungusFighter

mystic_trev wrote: »

Thanks Fungus - I've got enough Turkey to keep me going to next July, and I'm not really worried about Chinese tat! Thanks though for all the laughs you've given me over the past 12 months :rotfl:how you've never been PPR'd I'll never know!

Have a good one!

It's me natural charm mate;)

So what yo think about them greedy dockers after 5% when every other beggar has to take a pay cut or freeze? They having a laugh or what?

mystic_trev

FungusFighter wrote: »

It's me natural charm mate;)

So what yo think about them greedy dockers after 5% when every other beggar has to take a pay cut or freeze? They having a laugh or what?

Probably Fungus, but I think they'll be many more doing the same in the New Year. Good old Labour, you'll never change 'em - no more boom or bust!

FungusFighter

mystic_trev wrote: »

Probably Fungus, but I think they'll be many more doing the same in the New Year. Good old Labour, you'll never change 'em - no more boom or bust!

Your depressing me now mate;)

Btw have a good 'un yourself and pull a cracker for me, my pulling days seem to be over

(Me birds' just announced our forhtcoming nuptials to the world, if anyone has any idaes how i can get out of it.....:rotfl:)