Dockers and lorry drivers to protest over port of Liverpool facilities

DOCK workers working for Peel Ports, one of the UK’s largest port operators, are to protest tomorrow Friday (January 13) over the lack of decent welfare facilities for workers and drivers visiting the port of Liverpool’s Seaforth container terminal.
 
Members of Unite, the country’s largest union, are angry over the poor conditions at the port such as the basic right to have access to clean toilets, rest areas and canteen facilities.
 
Concerns have been raised that toilet facilities are appalling given that there are up to 350 workers working 24 hours a day, 365 days a year needing to use them.

There is also no provision for hot food after 2pm or at weekends, as well as no trade union facilities for health, safety and workplace representatives – despite a previous agreement to provide them.
 
Lorry drivers visiting the port are not provided with facilities to park their vehicles during a back log and the nearest safe and legal parking area with public conveniences is Burton Wood services in Warrington – 20 miles away.
 
More than 800 members of Unite, dock workers and lorry drivers, are affected by the totally inadequate facilities at the port of Liverpool’s container terminal.
 
Unite is calling for urgent talks with Peel Ports management to address the problems facing workers at the port and to provide decent facilities for all workers who visit.
 
Unite regional officer Colin Carr said: “Dock workers have raised their concerns about the inadequate welfare facilities on site whilst lorry drivers find intolerable conditions when faced with delays in accessing the port.
 
“Peel Ports is investing millions of pounds on transforming the port of Liverpool – making Seaforth the ‘dock of the future’. Yet, although our members are contributing in making this a reality, behind closed doors the company is treating its dedicated workforce badly by having scant regard for their wellbeing and welfare at work.
 
“This is a priority for us. Our members have little or no welfare facilities and appalling toilet facilities. There are also no toilets or canteen facilities available for visiting lorry drivers.
 
“This is more like a port of the past than a port of the future. We have no choice but to take action to demand that decent facilities are available for all workers.”
 
The demonstration will start at 9am January at the Seaforth dock main entrance, and should last no more than 2 hours.