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The supply chain for Volkswagen cars, including models from Audi, Porsche and Skoda, coming off ferries in Kent could be disrupted after staff at logistics firm GB Terminals (Southern) were balloted for strike action.

The Unite union said pay negotiations with Sheerness-based GB Terminals (Southern), part of the GBA Group, had collapsed with no offer from the company and it said it “beggars belief” that the company was “petulantly refusing to engage in any form of talks”.

It said drivers had asked for a 3% pay increase in line with inflation, however GB Terminals (Southern) had instead sought to impose a pay freeze. The ballot among members will close on 2 December and Unite said strikes would disrupt the supply of new vehicles into the UK.

Unite’s Ryan Fletcher said GB Terminals workers drove the vehicles off RoRo ferries and parked and processed them ready to be loaded and carried by car transporters: “Primarily it would be that supply chain going from the ferry to getting vehicles into dealerships, or wherever else they are going, that would be disrupted by strike action,” he said.

The group companies operate around 100 lorries and 100 trailers.

GBA Group did not respond to our request for a comment.

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