Strike - Neighbourhood Retailer

Freight hubs in NI could be hit by disruption as Liverpool dock workers strike

Linda Stewart — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 10:33:02 +0000

Freight hubs in Northern Ireland could face disruption due to planned strikes in the Port of Liverpool later this month.

Workers at the port are to stage a two-week strike in a row over pay, potentially hitting supply chains to and from Northern Ireland.

Some UK unions have floated the idea of coordinated strike action in the coming months, which could cause further disruption to supply chains.

On Friday, Unite the Union confirmed that more than 560 port operatives and maintenance engineers would take strike action from September 19 to October 3 after rejecting a pay offer.

A spokesman for Unite said a 7% pay offer amounted to a pay cut and bosses at Mersey Docks and Harbour Company (MDHC), part of Peel Ports Group, had failed to honour a 2021 pay agreement.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Workers across the country are sick to death of being told to take a hit on their wages and living standards while employer after employer is guilty of rampant profiteering.

“MDHC needs to think again, table a reasonable offer and fulfil its previous pay promises.”

The union said strike action at the container port would disrupt both shipping and road transport in Liverpool and the surrounding areas, but more action would be taken if an acceptable pay offer was not put forward.

A spokesman for Peel Ports Group said a pay package of 8.3% was rejected by the union.

Chief operating officer David Huck said: “Whilst we fully appreciate our colleagues’ concerns on the rising cost of living, we have proposed an industry leading pay package of 8.3%.

“This is all in addition to a 4.5% increase in 2021, with improvements to shifts, sick pay and pensions, and following continuous and above-average pay awards over the last 10 years.

“Our pay offer is well above the national average and represents a sustainable position for the business, taking into account stagnation in the container market, worldwide economic pressures, the conflict in Ukraine and global shipping disruption.

“We will continue to urge Unite the Union to keep talking with us so together we can find a resolution to avoid action that will be bad news for the sector, businesses and families, with the effects being felt for many months to come, at a time when container volume demand has started to reduce.”

Last month, almost 2,000 dockers at the Port of Felixstowe took part in eight days of strike action in a dispute over pay.

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Business groups call for deal on bin strike

Linda Stewart — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 10:11:33 +0000

Retail NI, Portadown, Banbridge and Lisburn Chambers of Commerce have jointly urged for agreement to reached in the current Council Services Strike in Armagh Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council.

In a joint statement Retail NI CEO Glyn Roberts, and the Presidents of Portadown, Banbridge, and Lisburn Chambers, Adrian Farrell, Michael Donaghy and Katrina Collins said: “It is not for us to take sides in any industrial dispute, but it is our responsibility to point out the damage that this strike is doing to our respective members’ businesses and our town centres.

“Overflowing bins and rubbish on our streets are the very last things our members, consumers and high streets need as we face the most serious economic challenge in a generation.

“We would urge the Councils and Trade Unions to go the extra mile to secure an agreement as this situation cannot continue any longer.

“Hopefully then any secured deal could be replicated throughout all Council areas in Northern Ireland to prevent any further disruption.”

Workers, including bin refuse collectors, have been on strike for over two weeks in the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon (ABC) council area.

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council staff are due to join strike action after a ‘breakdown’ in talks between unions and the council, with industrial action due to begin on Tuesday 6 September.

“We do this as a last resort and we genuinely want to find a resolution. If the council can come to us with a resolution that averts industrial action, we are more than willing to sit down, talk and try to reach a resolution,” said Unite Regional Officer, Kieran Ellison.

Three unions are joined in strike action, including Unite, GMB and NIPSA. They say ABC Council has not put forward an acceptable pay offer.

“The majority of our members have worked for the council for a very long time. They take great pride in the job that they do, so obviously to be in this situation is not nice but they realise they have to do it. At the end of the day, the public’s anger should be re-directed at the employer,” said GMB Regional Officer, Alan Perry.

The council says two cost of living payments have been offered, as well as an extra day’s holiday.

“Unions have yet to ballot their members on this offer. I know further discussions are taking place even tomorrow and out of that meeting I hope unions can take it to their members so that we can move towards ending this industrial action,” said ABC Council Alderman Mark Baxter.

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Armagh Food and Cider Weekend axed due to strike action

Linda Stewart — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 11:09:53 +0000

The annual Armagh Food and Cider Weekend has been cancelled, with strike action by council workers blamed or the decision.

The Orchard County was due to host the event between September 8 and 11, with artisan markets, tasting menus and cider tours all planned.

Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council has now confirmed the event will not take place.

Helen Troughton from the Armagh Cider Company and Art O’Hagan, who chairs the Armagh city centre management group, told of their disappointment at the news.

Ms Troughton told the BBC’s Evening Extra: “It’s a shame that it’s not happening

“Rather than let us try and fend for ourselves (the council) have decided to pull the event, which I can understand too because some producers need more than others and it’s only fair that everyone’s hit by it.”

With many visitors having already booked accommodation in Armagh, she said her business would still be running an open day over the weekend.

“There will be no charge to get in, because in these times before winter sets in, come on, let’s have a decent day out.”

Mr O’Hagan said he was also very disappointed to see the festival pulled “at the eleventh hour”, with a letter from the council to traders saying the decision was made “with great regret” because of strike action and resultant staff shortages.

Four weeks of strike action for workers with ABC council started on August 15, with members of NIPSA, GMB and Unite the Union taking part.

The action is causing major problems across the borough, with some complaining about a rise in flytipping because bins are not being collected.

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Strike at Felixstowe Port could lead to empty shelves in supermarkets

Linda Stewart — Mon, 22 Aug 2022 12:52:32 +0000

Strike action is underway at the UK’s busiest container port after workers walked out on Sunday due to a pay dispute.

Experts have warned that the planned eight days of industrial action at the site in Felixstowe could lead to months of disruption, with retailers including John Lewis, Asda, M&S and Tesco facing potential stock shortages.

The port is a key gateway to global trade and handles nearly half of the containerised freight entering the UK. The strike action is set to interrupt around £700m worth of trade, with the knock effect lasting months and resulting in product shortages in the run-up to Christmas. Potential shortages could also put extra pressure on prices at a time of inflation.

The union Unite said about 1,900 of its members were taking action after a 7% pay offer from the port operator was rejected due to it being “significantly below” the rate of inflation.

Unite’s general secretary Sharon Graham, noted that Felixstowe docks and its parent company were “enormously profitable” and were putting their profits ahead of “paying their workers a decent wage”.

The port said it has put in place contingency plans for this week.

However, container logistics giant, Maersk, said eight days of no operation at the site will have a “significant impact” and it has been left with “no choice but to omit three services [ships]”.

UK Managing Director, Gary Jeffreys, said the containers on those vessels will be dropped off in Europe and transferred back to Felixstowe or an alternative UK port based on customer preferences.

“This is normal practice when we invoke a contingency situation which can be for various reasons from industrial action, labour availability or even weather,” he said.

Mr Jeffreys added that while most customers have told them they are “well stocked”, there will be “fast-moving consumer goods that will be needed quickly”.

“Not everyone, especially small/medium size companies will have the luxury of significant stocks, they will be hit harder,” he said.

James Hookham, general secretary of trade group Global Shippers Forum warned that the strike could cause disruption to the key shopping season in the months ahead.

“There’s stuff [goods] on the way, it’s expecting to be here over the next five to six weeks, so if this is a prolonged stoppage there could be some serious disruption to expected delivery times,” he said.

“A lot of importers are expecting to start receiving the goods they sell not just at Christmas, but Halloween and half term, and that’s a big peak – as of course is now, Black Friday.”

“We can’t have a long strike here – this would really seriously mess up Christmas for everyone.”

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78% of Moy Park feed mill employees vote to strike: Unite

Linda Stewart — Tue, 31 May 2022 11:10:57 +0000

Unite members working as drivers, mill operators and engineers at Moy Park’s Moneynick Road feed mill have rejected management’s attempts to tie a pay parity deal to removal of wider terms and conditions, the union has claimed.

Unite says that workers at the Moneynick Road site are currently paid less per hour than workers doing similar work at other Moy Park sites but that the employer says that any movement to end unfavourable pay rates must be tied to workers’ losing holiday and special day premiums – which are also paid at other sites.

The union says that strike action at the mill is set to start from 7am on Monday June 6.

The approximate workforce of 40 who work at the mill produce chicken feed for thousands of farms supplying Moy Park across Northern Ireland. Unite says the company’s “greed” is attacking members’ wages and putting animal welfare at risk.

The union says Moy Park group made an operating profit of £86 million last year with the total package paid to its highest paid director worth £924,000.

Regional Unite officer Sean McKeever said: “Moy Park needs to recognise the determination of this workforce at Moneynick to end pay inequality with other sites. In the absence of movement, this strike is going ahead on Monday from 7am and will shut down production at this critical site.

“Even if Moy Park can source alternative supplies, there will undoubtedly be an impact for farming in Northern Ireland. The company’s greed is not just harming our members but harming animal welfare too.

“Management know what is needed to avert this strike – they need to return to the table with a no-strings offer to guarantee pay parity for these workers.”

A spokesperson at Moy Park said: “Following the successful completion of pay negotiations, which were balloted on and accepted by Unite members, we are disappointed to be notified of strike action by Unite the Union.

“The new pay award, representing an increase of 8.6% on all basic rates and shift allowances, has been paid from 1st April 2022.

“The proposed strike by up to 19 Unite members at the Mill will not disrupt our operations or customer service levels.”

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