Felixstowe Port Engineers Prepare to Strike as Union Responds to Outsourcing Plans
December 12: Engineering workers at Felixstowe docks are set to go out on strike in a row over plans to outsource their jobs.
More than 110 engineers, who are employed by the Felixstowe Dock and Railway Company, voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action, with 98% in favour. They unanimously voted for industrial action short of a strike over plans to transfer a number of them to Universal Tyres.
The union representing the workers, said the dispute was over the threat that some of them may have to transfer to the outside company. It will be informing the employer of strike dates in the next few days.
There are about 1,900 Unite members at the Port of Felixstowe – which is the UK’s busiest container port – including the 116 engineers.
At the current time, only the tyre [tire] fitting operation faces being transferred according to the union, but it fears that this could be the start of a trend.
