STRIKING truckers today picketed their depot in the first of a series of proposed stoppages to protest about the sacking of a lorry driver.Nearly 30 drivers from P&O company Roadways Haulage at Felixstowe took part in the strike – bringing the company's yard at the port to a standstill.

STRIKING truckers today picketed their depot in the first of a series of proposed stoppages to protest about the sacking of a lorry driver.

Nearly 30 drivers from P&O company Roadways Haulage at Felixstowe took part in the strike – bringing the company's yard at the port to a standstill.

No vehicles were moving in or out of the depot in Sub-Station Road and many other truckers using neighbouring haulage yards stopped to chat to the strikers and express support for their action.

Transport and General Workers' Union regional industrial organiser Victor Brazkiewicz said the drivers were protesting at what they considered to be the unfair dismissal of a long-serving driver in January.

The man, who was also a senior shop steward, was sacked in connection with a work-related matter.

Mr Brazkiewicz said: "We believe this is a case of unfair dismissal and we are pursuing it legally.

"There is a very strong depth of feeling among the other drivers and they have decided to take industrial action and hold a series of one-day strikes in support of their colleague who was dismissed.

"They are seeking his reinstatement or justice in whatever form we can gain."

The union had been in contact with conciliatory body ACAS to try to set up a meeting with the company but the offer had not been taken up.

"We hope the industrial action and the fact that nothing will move in or out of this yard today – no agency workers are being used – will put pressure on the employers and bring them to negotiate a resolution," he said.

"We feel at the moment that they are ignoring the situation. We gave them more than seven days' notice of the strike action and still no meeting has been arranged with the union."

No dates had been fixed as yet of future 10-hour stoppages but the union would follow the lawful procedures in giving advance notice of the dates.

No-one was available to comment today at P&O Roadways.

What do you think of the drivers' actions? Write in to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk or visit the forum at www.eveningstar.co.uk