News

Hundreds of dock workers in Dover are set to begin their second strike from Thursday (27 November).

The workers, members of the Unite union, plan a demonstration through the town on Thursday before they walk out for three days against plans to outsource 190 jobs.

Strikers believe that the privatisation plans will threaten jobs and pensions at the port.

'Dover Harbour Board boss Bob Goldfield made extensive efforts to secure scab labour to run the port during the strike,' reports the Socialist Worker Online website.

The website continues: 'Yet in a show of solidarity a group of those brought in to cover the strikers walked out of the port, saying they did not want to undermine the action.'

Earlier a group of former Gurkhas who had been brought in to work during the stoppage, walked out in support of the union members.

Local Labour MP Gwyn Prosser has called on Bob Goldfield to “consider his position” after a leaked letter from ferry operators appeared to show there was little support for his plans.