Tilbury dockers begin new strike. Up date 10th July

RESOLVED - SEE BELOW

Row over contracts escalates, but port claims low support for action won't affect operations
David Badger
Monday, 28 May 2012

Dockers at the UK port of Tilbury last night began their second strike this month, protesting against what they say is the arbitrary introduction of new contracts.Employees of Enterprise Distribution Centre (EDC) – members of the Unite union – began a 48-hour strike at 10pm last night.The workers are contesting the company’s decision to introduce a “follow-the-ship” contract – meaning that staff work when ships are ready for unloading, and not to set shift patterns.Earlier this month, Unite regional officer Jane Jeffery said: “Our members are set to lose about £2,500 a year because EDC is arbitrarily imposing these new contracts.“Members are annoyed at the complete lack of negotiation and consultation.”A spokesman for the port of Tilbury said: “We believe that this industrial action is unjustified, unnecessary and senseless. “It has not been supported by 70% of the EDC workforce and only involves a maximum of 35 people out of a total of 3,500 people working at the port of Tilbury. “The changes we are proposing, which we have discussed at length with the EDC workforce, are aimed at meeting the needs of customers with a view to helping to secure jobs at the port for the future and we are pleased that a number of employees have already volunteered to move to this new shift pattern. “UNITE should recognise this and work with us to help ensure that the port is able to compete effectively and meet the needs of our customers.”EDC deals with the unloading and distribution of paper reels.

OUR BROTHERS @ TILBURY RESOLVE DISPUTE 07/10/2012 0 Comments After a long hard fight our brothers at Tilbury have managed to resolve their issues around the introduction of "FLEXIBLE" working. After several walk outs, unexpected help from our brothers in EUROPE numerous ballots and a lot of negotiating. They have managed to get a deal that suits THEM, whilst also been able to meet the company needs. It's a WIN WIN situation. This shows that SOLIDARITY, perseverance and negotiating pays off. WELL DONE TILBURY Lets keep this in mind when we come to our next hurdle in OUR fight against "FLEXIBLE" working. This photo was taken when the Swedish dockworkers Union in Gothenburg initiated the first of two SOLIDARITY strikes in support of them.