International Transport Workers’ Federation staff announce new strike dates to protect jobs

New strike dates confirmed in official press release from Unite the Union.

Additional strike action announced due to lack of movement by management in redundancy negotiations

More than 100 workers at the London-based International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) have announced new strike dates in response to planned redundancies and attacks on collective bargaining.

The workers, members of Unite, are striking after the ITF’s management initiated an organisation-wide restructuring that includes cutting a quarter of the workforce this year.

In July, the workers voted by 89 per cent for strike action and by 90 per cent for action short of strike action on a turn out of 89 per cent.

An initial set of strike dates in July were postponed when management committed to act with urgency to progress negotiations.

Frustration over the lack of movement by management since then has resulted in fresh strike action being announced.

Unite regional coordinating officer Matt Freeman said: “ITF staff have been put through massive stress and anxiety throughout this restructuring process.

“Our members had no choice but to call additional strike dates to force management to progress negotiations. They have Unite’s full support.”

ITF staff will go on strike from 15 to 18 September, while maintaining an overtime ban and work to rule mandate in place from 17 July. Industrial action will continue if the dispute is not resolved.

These strike dates coincide with the ITF’s Maritime Roundtable (MRT) in Cyprus. There will be a physical picket line in London along with a virtual picket line globally, in recognition that the work of ITF staff is international and essential to delivering events like the MRT.  

Matt Freeman added: “We continue to be concerned about the proposed redundancies proposed being uneven. Management roles are male dominated, while the majority of the bargaining unit are women workers.

“We believe it is entirely possible for management to commit to a fair and equal resolution to our dispute without compulsory redundancies.”