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MyFerryLink Calais jobs deal struck 'to end port dispute' | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A deal has been struck between the French government and ferry workers that it is hoped will end disruption of services between Calais and Dover. | A deal has been struck between the French government and ferry workers that it is hoped will end disruption of services between Calais and Dover. |
Striking MyFerryLink workers have occupied two ferries since July and set fire to tyres, blocking the Channel Tunnel, in protests over job losses. | |
It followed the announcement in June by Eurotunnel that it was selling its two MyFerryLink ferries to DFDS Seaways. | It followed the announcement in June by Eurotunnel that it was selling its two MyFerryLink ferries to DFDS Seaways. |
Under the deal, 402 French workers will be employed by Eurotunnel and DFDS. | |
But more than 70 jobs on the UK side of the Channel have been lost permanently. | |
Charlie Elphicke, Conservative MP for Dover and Deal, said about half the British workers affected had found other jobs but between 30 and 40 had not. | |
"I talked to DFDS this morning and asked them to provide a future for the British workers," he said. | |
Security staff | |
DFDS will employ 202 ferry workers, while Eurotunnel will employ 200 - a quarter of them as security staff. | |
The UK government agreed in July to provide an extra £7m ($10.9m) towards security at the Channel Tunnel railhead in Calais after migrant activity also disrupted services. | |
Eurotunnel spokesman John Keefe said the ferry workers would need the right skills and be prepared to move into land-based jobs. | |
French transport minister Alain Vidalies said in a statement: "For the 487 employees concerned, the agreement provides for the creation of 402 jobs by Eurotunnel and DFDS, and the payment of a settlement compensation for employees unemployed at 1 January 2016." | |
The two ferries - the Rodin and the Berlioz - would be returned to DFDS on Wednesday morning, he added. | The two ferries - the Rodin and the Berlioz - would be returned to DFDS on Wednesday morning, he added. |
During action over the weekend by former workers of the dissolved ferry company, cross-Channel passengers faced delays when protesters used lifeboats to stop ferries entering or leaving the Port of Calais. | During action over the weekend by former workers of the dissolved ferry company, cross-Channel passengers faced delays when protesters used lifeboats to stop ferries entering or leaving the Port of Calais. |
Why were MyFerryLink workers protesting? | Why were MyFerryLink workers protesting? |