Industrial action at Tilbury docks

Dockworkers belonging to Unite have been engaged in strike action in response to a threat by the employer, SCA Logistics, to replace standard permanent employment with lower paid agency or casual workers on ZHCs. “If this is allowed to happen”, said Unite regional officer Jane Jeffery, “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. 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 says the employer has breached a collective agreement allowing for a certain percentage of agency workers. The agreement is being severely undermined by the ongoing replacement of permanent and trained dockers with agency or casual staff.