dockers at britain s largest container port, felixstowe, have gone on strike for the first time in three decades. almost 2000 workers are taking part in the eight day action after rejecting a seven % pay offer. there are warnings that the strike will cause disruption to supply chains for shops and other retailers half of britain s container trade goes through the port in suffolk. the government says supply chains are resilient. here s our business correspondent marc ashdown. the summer of strikes has reached felixstowe docks. these workers would normally be making sure essential goods find their way to households, but today, 1900 members of the unite union are starting an eight day walk out. people are so angry now that a company who made £240 million profit over the last two years are unwilling to share that. well, when i say share it, in 2020, the same company paid out £99 million in dividends to its shareholders. the offer on the table is a 7% pay rise, with a £500
has voted to stop transgender athletes from competing in women s elite races if they have gone through any part of the process of male puberty. as the conflict in ukraine continues the new head of the british army tells his troops they should be prepared to fight in europe once again . it s two hours until voting closes in the final round of parliamentary elections in france, with president emmanuel macron facing an alliance of left wing parties. good afternoon. the transport secretary says it s not for the government to intervene to try to prevent three days of strikes on the railways this week. grant shapps dismissed calls from the rmt union to get involved in the dispute as a stunt, saying it s for the employers and unions to reach an agreement. mr shapps says the strikes would be an act of self harm . the labour leader, sir keir starmer, says the government wants the strikes to go ahead to sow division in society. here s our political correspondent, damian grammatic
Doctors have been urged to accept the pay rise of 6% offered by the government on Thursday, even as the head of the union slammed the attempt to end the strikes.