Second round of Liverpool strikes

Two weeks of strikes will begin on 24 October after the offer of 11% from owner Peel Ports Group was rejected. This follows earlier action at the port in September.

“It’s hugely disappointing that Unite has staged yet another outdated show-of-hands mass meeting which has, very predictably, failed to support our improved 11% pay offer,” said Peel Ports chief operating officer David Huck.

“This is the highest percentage increase of any port group in the UK by far and would see average annual pay rise to £43,275.

“Given we have now improved our offer six times and Unite have consistently blocked the involvement of ACAS to help arbitrate, you have to question whether the union really wants to resolve this damaging industrial action or is simply prolonging it for their own ends.”

The union has hit back, accusing the Peel Ports board of intervening to stop a deal. “[We] have negotiated in good faith with Peel Ports,” said Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham.

“But the talks ended in farce, with the deal agreed between Unite and senior management being pulled by the board.”

The union has criticised the company’s decision to issue a formal redundancy notice to 132 workers since strikes began. It has called the operator ‘untrustworthy’, saying that redundancies do not make sense at a time when the port has stated its desire to expand.