Port Workers Could Go On Strike

Workers at a rail depot operator at Southampton port are being asked if they want to go on strike.

Transport union RMT has confirmed that it will begin a ballot for both strike action and action short of a strike of Freightliner members at Southampton depot in a dispute over rosters and restructuring. 

It could cause big disruption as Freightliner handles more than a thousand containers at the docks every day.

Despite negotiations lasting over a year, no agreement's been reached.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said: "RMT representatives have been negotiating these restructuring proposals with Freightliner for well over a year and just when a resolution appeared achievable, the company withdrew all concessions previously tabled and retreated to a position that ripped up any progress that we had made in the discussions aimed at resolving this dispute.

"Freightliner has conducted itself in a completely disingenuous manner. It is as a result of the aggressive and underhand tactics of the company that the RMT executive has taken the decision to conduct a ballot of all our members at Southampton for strike action and industrial action short of a strike.

"The union is confident that our members will show their strength of feeling to the company by returning a massive yes vote in the ballot for industrial action."

The ballot will open on 16th May and close on the 30th May 2012.