Liverpool dockers celebrate major victory

Liverpool dockers employed by Peel Ports have won pay hikes between 14 per cent and 18 per cent plus, according to job grades, after a deal was secured by Unite, the dockers’ union.

At a mass meeting held on Thursday (November 10) at the docks, around 600 workers voted overwhelmingly in favour of the deal, which was negotiated earlier this week.

The dock workers will now resume normal work duties, ending a wave of escalating strike action that began on September 19. The win involved the resolute strike action of Unite members but also the leverage of ‘strikes plus’.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “This is a highly significant victory for the Unite members on Liverpool docks. The determined resolve of our members on the picket line and Unite’s strikes-plus strategy has forced the company to see sense and do the right thing. Make no mistake – Unite will continue to fight for jobs, pay and conditions and defend workers relentlessly.”

Since Sharon Graham was elected as general secretary, Unite has employed forensic accountants and economists to pour over complex and opaque company finances to hold firms to account. Leverage strategies implemented to identify and target hidden company decision makers have also become integral to fighting disputes.

During the last year, this has resulted in over 81 per cent of the more than 450 disputes being won, putting an extra £200 million into the pockets of our workers.

Unite national officer Bobby Morton added,“The hard work and solidarity of our members and reps at Peel Ports, combined with the union’s strategic tactics, has paid off. This victory is another reminder of why those who want to improve their pay and working lives should join Unite and become part of the fight for a better deal.”

By Ryan Fletcher