Strikes expected at Felixstowe port as pay talks end without agreement

Dock workers at vital Suffolk container port offered 7% pay rise and 500 lump sum

Talks between the Unite union and the company that runs Felixstowe port, which were aimed at stopping an eight-day strike by dock workers at Britain's busiest container port, have ended without a deal.

Negotiations came to an end despite the company's new offer of a 500 bonus for each of the 1,900 dock workers, who have already voted in favour of strike action between 21 and 29 August amid a pay dispute with the Felixstowe Dock and Railway Company.