Ferries safe from B Transcard
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MOST of Sealink UK's ferry services m national rail strike next week. will operate normally if there is
Only a few National Union of lailwaymen members are em)loyed by Sealink, and most of hem secure ferries at the docks, Sealink spokesman told CM. In )revious strikes, management ;taff workers have done this job.
"Dover and the Eastern Docks ;ervices to Calais and Ostend viii be unaffected, as there are 10 NUR members based there," he spokesman said. But the Isle xf Wight service will be hit, as it s manned totally by union em)loyees.
Sealink's optimism is not ;hared by the NUR which ex)ects a total shut-down of ser/ices during the strike period. A anion spokesman said: "We lave sent out instructions to the National Union of Seamen, asking for its cooperation. The J nion has agreed."
If the ferries do sail, the NUR Nill consider picketing the ports as a final resort, and asking workers from both the NUS and :he NUR to recognise it.
An NUS spokesman said its -nembers would not do any of he jobs previously carried out 3y the NUR, in the event of a ;trike.
The Freight Transport Asso;iation has meantime advised ail freight users to look for alterlative means of transport as soon as possible.
It told members to move freight by rail this week, as it is likely to stay tied up until the industrial situation is resolved.
Many large users have already stopped using rail, and this time the switch to road will be more permanent, the FTA predicts. Users are keen to make the move from rail to road, as they were impressed by road transport's "rapid and effective response" during the rail dispute in January and February.
"Even if the strike does not happen, some damage has already been done. If the strike proceeds, there is a grave danger that rail freight will find itself in an irretrievable position," the FTA said.