The Unite union reported that 92% of workers voted in favour of industrial action on an 81% turnout. The vote comes after the Felixstowe Dock and Railway Company offered staff a 5% pay increase while the Retail Price Index (RPI) —a measure of inflation—stood at 11.9%. The latest pay offer adds to an increase last year of 1.4%, again below inflation.

Felixstowe moves around 4m teu of container per year and is the main deepwater port for handling large container vessels on the UK’s East coast, connecting the island to Europe’s main container hubs and the rest of the world beyond. Around half of the UK’s container trade passes through Felixstowe.

Any strike would be the latest in a list of disruptions to hit the UK logistics sector, from a shortage of lorry drivers to the P&O debacle, Brexit regulatory changes and the manifold effects of the pandemic.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The bottom line is this is an extremely wealthy company that can fully afford to give its workers a pay rise. Instead, it chose to give bonanza pay outs to shareholders touching £100m.

Unite regional officer Miles Hubbard said: “Strike action at Felixstowe will inevitably create huge disruption across the UK’s supply chain. This dispute is of Felixstowe’s own making. Strike dates have yet to be announced but even at this late stage the dispute could be resolved by the company returning to negotiations and making a realistic offer.”

A spokesperson for the port said the company hopes to avoid any industrial action, that it made what it considered to be a very fair pay offer and that it is disappointed with the ballot result.

Both sides have agreed to meet with the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) to discuss the issue further.