Dockers seek conciliation help

Talks are continuing to resolve the dockers crisis.

Conciliation experts have been brought in to help avert the first national docks' strike in 14 years.

Workers at more than 20 ports including Grimsby and Southampton have threatened a ballot on industrial action.

But union officials and representatives of Associated British Ports are still trying to reach an agreement with the help of conciliation service ACAS.

The move comes after members of the Transport and General Workers' Union rejected a 2.9% pay offer last month.

Industrial action

The two sides held discussions on Monday to try to resolve the crisis.

"We have held off from holding an industrial action ballot because we are keen to resolve this issue through negotiations," said a T&G spokeswoman.

Union members want a minimum hourly rate of £7.50 and rejected the pay deal offered by three to one.

They are also calling for a one hour reduction in the working week to 38 hours and changes to arrangements for holidays and parental leave.

The action would affect operations at Southampton, Teignmouth, Plymouth, Newport, Barry, Cardiff, Port Talbot, Swansea, Garston (Merseyside), Fleetwood, Barrow, Silloth, Troon, Ayr, Whitby, Hull, Goole, Grimsby, Immingham, King's Lynn, Lowestoft, Ipswich and Tilbury.