Unite the Union have criticised Trinity College for not intervening in an ongoing industrial dispute taking place at Felixstowe Port, where the College is a major land owner.

Trinity College owns Trinity Terminal, the largest container holder facility at the port. Pay is the focus of the dispute, with Unite claiming that workers have faced a real terms pay cut. The union has refused the port’s offer of a 7% rise, arguing that with inflation at 10%, this amounts to a fall in wages.

On Wednesday (12/10), a coalition of campaigners led by Cambridge Unite branch activists held a peaceful protest outside Trinity College, calling for the institution to intervene over the pay dispute.

Over 1,900 Unite members have been engaged in strike action at Felixstowe, after the multi-national port operator CK Hutchison moved to impose its pay deal on workers. Felixstowe port reportedly made record profits of £79 million in 2021, with £42 million paid out in shareholder dividends. Unite has also criticised CK Hutchison for being registered in the Cayman Islands.

On the dispute, Unite General Secretary, Sharon Graham said: “as a major landowner of Felixstowe Port, Trinity College Cambridge should use its influence to call on CK Hutchison to bring this unnecessary dispute to an end. It’s time to stand up against this tremendously wealthy company trying to impose real terms pay cuts on workers simply in order to boost their already huge profits”.

Local Cambridge Unite branch campaigner, Andrew Osborne, told Varsity: “Trinity Cambridge is being tarred by its association with CK Hutchison. The college must speak out against the gross mistreatment of trade unionists who are campaigning for fair pay during a cost of living crisis”.

A spokesperson for Cambridge Land Justice, a local community campaign also present at the protest said: “the pay cut which CK Hutchison have forced on dockers at Felixstowe is a vicious attack on people’s basic right to live and work in dignity, carried out under the watchful eye of Trinity College Cambridge.

“If billionaire landowner Trinity College has any claim to be a responsible landowner, they must intervene in this dispute and ensure that workers get what they deserve”.

Industrial action could cause major shocks to UK supply chains, with the second round of port strikes in Felixstowe overlapping with action in Liverpool. The industrial action is the latest dispute in a wave of union activity that has spread to sectors as far-ranging as rail, mail, airways, law and education this year.

Trinity College was approached by Varsity for comment.