Hull cranes standing idle during the dockers' strike of 1984. The strike began on 8 July, paralysing 61 ports around the country. Fearful of rapidly felt food shortages, the government discussed emergency plans to mobilise troops to enter docks and unload 1,000 tons of food a day. However, the Transport and General Workers Union called off the strike within hours, fully aware that the miners would regard this action as a betrayal.