Unite union survey shows almost every worker at the Port and their families are struggling to make ends meet and now face a second year of poverty pay.

November 24th: The dispute follows management’s decision to reject workers’ modest demand for a 2.1% pay increase this year, following a pay freeze last year.  The rejection of the union claim in effect extends last year’s pay freeze for another year and forces a pay cut on Foyle workers.

Trade union Unite, which represents workers at Foyle Port, has today (Wednesday) written to the Port and Harbour Commissioners outlining the background to strike action due to hit the port from Monday 29 November. 

Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham said:

“A recent survey of our members working in Foyle port showed that almost every worker there is suffering growing  financial hardship. The effects of last year’s pay freeze combined with significant levels of inflation means that our members have had their pay cut in real terms. Trying to make ends meet is getting tougher and tougher for our members and their families year by year.

“Despite this, and despite the fact that these workers struggled throughout the pandemic to ensure that goods and supplies got to where they were needed, management has failed to make a realistic pay offer.  What kind of thanks is that? Unite’s focus is on defending our members’ jobs, pay and conditions and that includes workers at Foyle Port and the sector as a whole”.

Unite Regional Officer Gareth Scott added:

“Unite has written to the Port and Harbour Commissioners outlining our members’ concerns, informing them of the forthcoming strike action, and urging them to intervene with management in a bid to avert what will inevitably be a damaging dispute for the Foyle Port.

“Our members in Foyle Port and the wider sector are determined to secure a meaningful improvement in their terms and conditions.

“There is still time for management to come back to the table and present our members with a realistic proposal”, Mr Scott concluded.