Port union workers vote to strike

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Workers at the Port of Dover have voted in favour of strike action over plans to transfer jobs to the private sector.

Members of Unite voted about eight-to-two in favour of industrial action.

From January, commercial contractors will run many of the port operations such as mooring and tug boat work, and security services, affecting 190 jobs.

Unite said it planned to hold a 48-hour strike starting from 0700 GMT next Tuesday, 18 November. The harbour board said the port would remain open.

'Defend livelihoods'

Unite regional industrial organiser, Jane Jeffery, said: "Our members have voted overwhelmingly in a ballot for industrial action to protect their employment with the Port of Dover.

"Our members are determined to protect their terms and conditions of employment, and most importantly pensions, which will undoubtedly be threatened by these outsourcing plans."

She added: "Our members are angry that the company has done nothing to help resolve the situation and feel they have no choice but to take strike action to defend their livelihoods."

Chief executive Bob Goldfield said: "We have put in place a thorough contingency plan with particular emphasis firstly on safety and security, and secondly on maintaining regular ferry services which will ensure the port remains open in the event of any industrial action prior to the implementation of the new arrangements."

New marina

On Thursday six former Gurkhas who were being trained to moor ships as part of the Dover Harbour Board's contingency plans in the event of strike action walked out.

There had been fears there could be a backlash against serving soldiers.

Following their decision to leave, Dhan Gurung, who was made the first Gurkha councillor in Britain in 2007, said the six former soldiers "did not want to do anything against the people of Britain".

The harbour board wants to turn the former Hoverport at the Western Docks into a second ferry terminal with a new marina and four new berths.

Its said service operations at the port therefore needed to be opened up to competition, in line with European Commission objectives, before a second terminal was built.

The board said a second terminal would help create 1,000 new jobs locally and ease traffic problems.