48-hour stoppage at Tilbury docks

From a Unite press release, 27 May 2014

A move by the hardline management of SCA Logistics, based at Tilbury docks, to drive down wages by introducing zero hours contracts, has provoked a two-day strike.

The dockers, members of Unite, started a 48-hour stoppage at 06.00 yesterday (Tuesday 27 May) in the dispute which the union fears could see the permanent workforce being replaced by lower paid agency/casual workers on zero hours contracts.

Unite regional officer Jane Jeffery said: "If this is allowed to happen, we will be turning the clock back 50 years to the bad old days when you had to rely on the tap on the shoulder to see if you had work for the day in the docks.

"Only today, the call will come on your mobile - but the culture will be the same, low waged and insecure employment. Wages could drop substantially, while the cost of living continues to rise."

Unite said that a collective agreement is in place which allowed a certain percentage of agency workers, but this was being severely undermined by the ongoing replacement of permanent trained dockers, who number about 24, by even more agency/casual staff.

Jane Jeffery said: "Although the action is for 48-hours, our members are being denied overtime and prevented from booking holidays. Agency labour is being used to cover their duties and working 14 hour days in order to do so.

"It seems that the management of the Swedish-owned SCA Logistics is hell-bent on antagonising and prolonging the dispute, instead of reaching a settlement through discussion and negotiation.

"Unite will strongly resist the very real threat of the workforce at this company becoming 100% employed on zero hours contracts."

The strike will only hit vessels being serviced by SCA Logistics at Tilbury.

Donate to the Socialist Party

Finance appeal

The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.

Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.

We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to click here to donate to our Fighting Fund.