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Liverpool port strike to increase delays for drinks deliveries
A strike at the port of Liverpool is going to add to delays in drinks deliveries, according to logistics experts.
Dockworkers in Liverpool that work at its port, which counts the US as its primary trading partner, are part of a seven-day strike that began on 11 October and will last until 17 October.
According to reports, the Unite union will continue to hold strikes until dockworker’s pay matches inflation, which is currently at 12.3%. The union has already reportedly rejected wage offers between 7% to 8.3% and the dispute is still on the table for discussion.
Drinks companies and wineries reliant on deliveries via ports at the UK’s biggest container port Felixstowe and Liverpool have ensured gruelling delays as a result of the ongoing strikes since the late summer. As such, the diversion of trade away from the UK ports has since also created congestion and additional delays at other ports across Europe.
Prior to the last dockworker strikes, Crane Worldwide Logistics’ Europe, Middle East, and Africa ocean product director Andreas Braun warned that the delays in many drinks products arriving into the UK once off a vessel could be as long as 45 days.
MarineTraffic’s supply chain in-transit visibility lead Alex Charvalias explained: “The prior strikes in Felixstowe may have ended, but congestion at the port is on the rise.”
According to recent data, the total TEU (container) capacity waiting off ports limits is reportedly around three times higher than usual, reaching more than 99K TEUs (containers).
Back in August, an eight-day strike by workers at the port of Felixstowe led to delays to the supply chain as wine stocks start heading to the UK in the build-up for Christmas became delayed.
Unite has not ruled out a further strike for dockworkers before Christmas, with much of the nation’s drinks supply hanging in the balance.
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