Port of Liverpool reaches bargain deal to end strikes

Peel Ports Group (PPG) and Unite the Union union members have reached a deal after a months-long dispute at the Port of Liverpool.

PPG, which operates the Port of Liverpool’s container terminals alongside TIL (Terminal Investments Limited), released the announcement on 8 November.

The news comes one day after the latest strike action ended at the port.

In the latest round of talks, Peel Ports had offered an 11 per cent pay offer, increasing average annual salaries to more than £43,000 ($49,733) – an offer rejected by the union.

PPG announced that Unite will have a vote with the container operators later this week to formally accept the offer.

Terms and conditions of the proposed offer have not yet been disclosed.

On this basis, Peel Ports’ Chief Operating Officer David Huck and Unite the Unions’ National Officer for Transport Bobby Morton confirmed that the strike planned for the 14 November will be postponed.

Vessel arrivals at the Port of Liverpool have decreased drastically due to continuous strike action, with dwell times still within tolerance and not posing a threat to the UK supply chain.

FourKites found that weekly shipments arriving to the port during the weeks of 2 and 16 October were down by 46 per cent and 68 per cent respectively when compared to the beginning of August.

In the meantime, strike action is rampaging through ports as the Port of Antwerp is the latest announcing further walkouts commencing this week.