DOCKERS stood their ground yesterday and walked out on strike against bosses’ attempts to bring in zero-hours contracts.

On zero-hours contracts, workers are expected to be available only when employers need them. Casualisation was once the curse of Britain’s docks, with thousands of dockers turning up for work each day and managers selecting who would get a day’s work.

Last month Swedish firm SCA Logistics at Tilbury on the Thames is accused by the union Unite of attempting to drive down wages by employing casual and agency workers on zero-hours contracts.

That sparked a 48-hour walkout by two dozen dockers at the site from 6am yesterday. 

Unite regional officer Jane Jeffery said: “If this is allowed to happen, we will be turning the clock back 50 years to the bad old days when you had to rely on the tap on the shoulder to see if you had work for the day in the docks.

“Only today, the call will come on your mobile — but the culture will be the same, low-waged and insecure employment.”

Unite said some agency workers are allowed by agreement, but this was being “severely undermined” by replacement of permanent, trained dockers by more casual staff.

“Agency labour is being used to cover their duties and working 14 hour days in order to do so,” Ms Jeffery added. 

She said bosses were “hell-bent on antagonising and prolonging the dispute” instead of reaching a settlement through negotiation and pledged Unite would resist.