Port privatisation a 'betrayal'

The Port of Dover currently employs about 400 staff in jobs

Nearly 200 workers at the Port of Dover are to be transferred to the private sector under restructuring plans.

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

The Port of Dover said the restructuring was needed ahead of the construction of a second terminal.

Dover MP Gwyn Prosser said the decision by the Dover Harbour Board was a betrayal of the workforce's loyalty.

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

The hiving-off of these services to private operators will impact negatively on employees' conditions of service and on safety

Gwyn Prosser MP

In a statement it said: "It would not be right to offer the prospect of self-handling or self-selection of a quayside handling contractor to a T2 (terminal two) operator whilst denying the same opportunity to those remaining in T1 (terminal one).

"The proposed changes will result in the transfer of approximately 190 staff directly employed by Dover Harbour Board which represents about one third of the full-time workforce."

Under employment protection regulations, it was expected that actual job losses would be "minimal", the statement said.

But Mr Prosser said that protection seldom lasted more than 12 months.

"As a former officer on Dover's cross-Channel Ferries I'm very much aware of the important role played by the berthing gangs, the tug drivers and the security officers.

"The hiving-off of these services to private operators will impact negatively on employees' conditions of service and on safety.

Jobs 'created'

"The local union reps and the work force has worked tirelessly to co-operate with Dover Harbour Board...and it beggars belief that that they should be rewarded with this unilateral Board decision to terminate their employment.

"The Dover Harbour Board's action is a betrayal of their loyal workforce"

The Dover 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.

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