SOUTHAMPTON dock workers plan to rely on an international network of support to make their voices heard if they decide to walk out over pay, the Daily Echo can reveal.

A "proud history" of support among port workers means that should any action take place, vessels attempting to break the dispute could have their names entered on a worldwide blacklist.

Those ships and even their owners could then face problems doing business in scores of unionised major ports across the globe.

It means even a handful of striking workers could cause major disruption at Southampton docks.

Yesterday, union bosses fed-up with a "wholly inadequate" 2.9 per cent pay offer from dock owner and operator ABP, revealed they planned to hold a strike ballot - the first for 14 years.

The T&G is trying to secure 23 days holiday a year, two weeks fully paid paternity leave and a one hour reduction in the working week to 38 hours as well as a better pay deal for members.

It points out profits have risen to £74.5m but says Associated British Ports bosses refused to discuss the details of the claim.

That attitude, says the T&G, prompted it to launch a postal ballot, with forms due to go out in September.

National organiser for transport, Graham Stevenson, said: "If it takes a full national strike ballot to make progress, so be it."

It is not clear how many Southampton workers would join in any action, with estimates varying from ten to about 100.

The union says any walkout would have a massive impact.

"People shouldn't underestimate the impact that they could make," says Steve Turner of the T&G.

"If we did get into a dispute we would be registering the name of any vessels that tried to break it and those names would be circulated around the world.

"It is very serious for a port operator."

An ABP spokesman played down fears, pointing out that any action would affect only 300 employees out of a total of 3,000 nationwide.

Those are the ones subject to collective bargaining contracts. He added: "ABP always seeks to maintain a constructive and open dialogue with all its employees and union representatives."