Port workers plan second strike

Managers were drafted in to cover workers' jobs in the last strike

Workers at a Kent port are preparing to stage a second strike over the privatisation of their jobs.

The three-day action by staff at Dover Harbour Board is expected to start at 0700 GMT on Thursday.

More than 300 members of the Unite union took part in a 48-hour strike last week, although managers stood in to prevent ferry crossing disruptions.

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

Unite has said if jobs were transferred to a private firm, its members would suffer.

Union official Jane Jeffery said: "Our members are determined to protect their terms and conditions of employment.

"The workers are angry that the company has done nothing to help resolve the situation and now feel they have no choice but to take strike action to defend their livelihoods."

'Security vital'

Unite national officer Brendan Gold added: "Dover Port management have forgotten the huge contribution our members make to run the port efficiently.

"To outsource port security at a time when security is of vital importance is negligent in the extreme."

Dover Harbour Board chief executive Bob Goldfield previously described the strike as pointless.

Unite seems to have lost sight of the fact that their members' livelihoods are at stake here in difficult economic times

Bob Goldfield, Dover Harbour Board

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.

The board said a second terminal would help create 1,000 new jobs locally and ease traffic problems, but service operations first needed to be opened up to competition, in line with European Commission objectives.

It has said it is confident that this week's strike will not affect ferry services, "which will continue to run to schedule".

In a statement, Dover Harbour Board said it was disappointed Unite had still not agreed to an Acas offer to mediate in talks about the dispute.

"It is very disappointing that Unite continue on this destructive road when an alternative is available to them of talks brokered through Acas," said Mr Goldfield.

"Unite seems to have lost sight of the fact that their members' livelihoods are at stake here in difficult economic times.

"The only people that will suffer at the end of the day will be their members."