100 per cent for

Ferry workers in Woolwich have said ‘enough is enough,’ after voting 100 per cent in favour of strike action, following operator Marine Briggs attacking long-standing agreements and practices.

 
In a dispute over pay disparities, the use of agency staff and ceasing the practice of extending sick payments in exceptional cases, all 26 of Unite members in the workplace, which include crew, electricians and road traffic teams, voted ‘yes’ to strike action if negotiations planned on January 28 fail to reach an agreement.

 
Potential strike action could cause serious disruption to the Woolwich/Greenwich Thames river crossing.

 
Unite regional officer Onay Kasab said he was optimistic that talks could end the dispute.

 
“The decision to take strike action is never easy,” he said. “Unite has a proud track record of working with employers to resolve disputes and we believe that reaching a negotiated settlement to this dispute makes sense for our members and the company.”

 
But, Kasab emphasised that workers would not back down if talks fail.

 
“Unite welcomes Briggs Marine’s commitment to talks but warns that strike action remains firmly on the cards after the strong vote in favour of strike action,” he said.

 
“Our members couldn’t be clearer,” Kasab added. “A 100 per cent vote in favour of strike action is a vote against Briggs Marine’s heavy handed attempts to bully workers into accepting attacks to long standing agreements and practices that must not be ignored.”