With a constant honks and toots of support, Felixstowe dock workers are enjoying the backing of the public, lorry drivers and the union as they rallied for the second day of their eight day strike.

Even with the port's head of corporate affairs claiming the deal being offered was better than many other prep were getting, and dockers were on wages 40" higher than the national wage, strikers were adamant they would not accept the offer of 7%, plus a £500 one off payment.

"I'm not a strong unionist, or militant in any way, but I have come down to show my support and will not go back into the port until next week when this strike is over. If we have to come out again, I will, although I won rather the bosses settled and gave us what we deserve. The cost of living crisis is crippling all of us, except the shareholders."

Trevor Lee, a driver from Trimley, told Nub News: "Yes, know it is going to cause supply issues, but these guys deserve our support in taking on bosses that are making vast profits and have being taking the Mick ut of its employees for a while now.

"The strike is legitimate and like many, many other workers, they are absolutely right to take a stand."

Strikers enjoy wide support

Spokesman Paul Davey of Hutchison's Ports, which owns Felixstowe docks, told Sky News: "The pay deal we're talking about now only runs until the end of this year.

"On the first of January, there is another pay deal. So we can deal with future inflation next year.

"The deal we have offered them is a lot better than the vast majority of people are getting and also you know we're pleased and we are proud that we pay very well here at the port of Felixstowe."

Unite the Union have called on the company holding out on its workers to pay out, just as it has done its shareholders overr the past five years.

Felixstowe Docks company, its subsidiaries and ultimately its parent company, based in Hong Kong, paid out £198 million in dividends since 2017.

Since 2017 the company has paid out £198 million in dividends most of which have gone to parent companies, with the ultimate holding company being CK Hutchinson Holdings Ltd, which is registered in Hong Kong.

Felixstowe's accounts for 2020 (at the height of the pandemic) show the company made pre-tax profits of £61 million while also paying a dividend of £99 million. 

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Felixstowe Docks and its associated companies have been prioritising profits and dividends instead of giving their workers a decent share of the pie .

"Instead the company is siphoning off tens of millions of pounds offshore to its Hong Kong-based parent company, almost every year. So Hong Kong shareholders are getting a bonanza pay-out while the company weeps 'crocodile tears' claiming that they can't pay a decent pay rise here and essentially asking workers to accept a pay cut .'

"The workers at Felixstowe have UNITE's full backing until this dispute is resolved."

Facebook live video

Ever Alot on its own in Felixstowe docks (Picture credit: Nub News)