Teesport tug boat workers announce strikes in March

Tug boats crews employed by Svitzer Marine will strike on several occasions in March in a dispute over pay.

The strikes are due to take place on March 1 for 48 hours, followed by a further two 24 hour strikes on March 9 and 26.

The tug boats crews are responsible for ensuring that the container ships are able to safely enter and leave Teesport, meaning employee walkouts would mean the facility would come to a standstill and will also have a knock-on effect on other parts of Teesport.

Employees have questioned the reasoning behind their pay freeze when Svitzer Marine profited from millions during the coronavirus pandemic.

Tug boats crews are due to strike on three occasions in March. Picture: The Northern Echo

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Workers’ union Unite says workers who are members unanimously voted in favour of walkouts.   

Unite regional officer Pat McCourt said: “Strike action will cause huge disruption at Teesport.  It could bring the entire operation to a standstill. This is entirely of Svitzer Marine’s own making as despite numerous attempts to resolve this dispute through negotiations they have refused to make our members a pay offer.

“Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen has said that “The (Freeport) zone would bring ‘better wages for local people’.  He needs to have a serious word with Svitzer because they are proving that this is not the case.”

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But in response to the claims by Unite, Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen hit back, saying: “Svitzer provide no services and do no work with or for the Freeport. Nor have they ever done so.

“It's disappointing to see Unite the Union try to play politics with our Freeport rather than concentrate on a very serious pay dispute between their members and the company in question.

“I would encourage them to concentrate on their job and do their best to represent their affected members by fighting for fair pay for a fair days work with Svitzer and not to make up nonsense about the Freeport.

“For Unite to try and convolute their pay dispute with the Freeport for purely cynical reasons is beyond the pale when people's livelihoods are at stake.”

Teesport. Picture: the Northern Echo

It is believed workers are unhappy at how Svitzer has financially benefited from a significant increase in volumes coming into Teesside over the last year. 

Svitzer’s parent company, the shipping giant Maersk (A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S), is forecast to make profits of $16.2 billion (£11.84 billion) for 2021, in part due to bottlenecks caused by the pandemic. 

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Svitzer can easily afford decent pay for this workforce but has instead chosen to pocket the profits at the expense of our members’ living standards.

“But this 100 per cent ‘yes’ vote for action speaks volumes about our members’ determination to win - Svitzer would do well to heed this resounding result and come back with an acceptable offer.

“Unite has vowed that we will not allow freeports to become low wage zones which is why our members at Svitzer Marine will receive the union’s full and total support until this dispute is resolved.”

PD Ports, operator of Teesport, said: "We are aware that there are ongoing issues between Unite and Svitzer and, whilst we won’t be commenting on such matters specifically, we do understand that mitigating steps are being taken to ensure minimal disruption to service.

"We, at PD Ports, are carefully planning for any such circumstances and do not anticipate any issues for stakeholders along the river."

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