GRAIN EXPORTS could be severely curtailed later in the year due to potential industrial action by port workers in a dispute over pay.

Union members working for Associated British Ports, which owns 21 ports across the country, have voted to reject its offer of a 2.9% pay rise.

A ballot for industrial action is scheduled for September at the earliest, which could result in a strike from October onwards, said a spokesman for the Transport and General Workers Union.

But if talks to implement a minimum wage of £7.50/hour for all dock staff and £10/hour for drivers were successful then strike action would be averted, he added.

Centaur Grain‘s Graham Lacey said an extensive strike would be “highly inconvenient and damaging for prices”.

But a spokesman for ABP said only 300 of its 3000 staff were union members at the moment, and a strike would not affect more than a few of its ports.

“Any industrial action, although regrettable, would be manageable.  It would categorically not lead to the closure of any of ABP‘s ports,” he added.