THE port of Southampton has vowed to stay open despite threats from trade union leaders to bring the docks to a standstill in a national wrangle over pay and working conditions.

Associated British Ports (ABP), the owners and operators of the city's docks, said less than ten members of staff out of more than 1,000 workers within the port were subject to collective bargaining.

However, a T&G union spokesman claimed Southampton was one of their four most significant centres in the UK and that ABP should not underestimate the impact their members could make in any future action.

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