See Leaked Letter on Frontpage!
- 22 November 2008 11:179676We have SECRETLY got hold of this letter and it shows a huge level of concern right across the harbour. The three major ferry companies are expressing real concern as to how things are developing.They have signed the reproduced letter. Please see the letter and leave your comments. It is rather hamfistedly reproduced by me alas but nevertheless it should be readable.
Its an extraordinary situation.email: dover7@msn.com - 22 November 2008 12:449679Indeed it is paulB. It beautifully demonstrates BGs lack of skill and charm in his present role. If he had the necessary skills surely he would have forseen this and planned ahead? An extraordinary event indeed. Perhaps it is time to be clear that there is an irreperable breakdown in trust and communication that is seated right at BGs feet, which he has a reliable tendency to put in his mouth at the most sensitive of moments.
- 22 November 2008 13:089680This extraordinary letter was the subject of an article in Lloyds List on 18th November. The article has been reproduced on various internet ferry websites so hopefully there is not a problem with copyright but I leave it to Paul to judge. This copy is from the Yahoo group "Ferries of Northern Europe."
Major customers slam Dover Harbour Board
David Osler - Tuesday 18 November 2008
http://www.lloydslist.com
ALL three leading customers of Dover Harbour Board have accused Britain's
number one ferry port of "abusing its dominant position",
"misrepresentation", "lack of transparency" and not telling the truth, in an
explosive round robin letter seen by Lloyd's List.
The accusations, levelled by P&O Ferries, SeaFrance and Norfolkline, centre
on Dover's plans to outsource mooring, trailer handling and security work,
precisely the issue that triggered this week's 48-hour walk out by
dockworkers at Dover.
Unite, the trade union organising the strike, instantly seized on the
document as proof that the changes are unnecessary and not supported by
Dover's clients, the very people in whose name they are being carried out.
The letter from the vessel operators was sent to all members of Dover
Harbour Board, and is signed by P&O Ferries ports director Terry Cairns;
SeaFrance managing director Robin Wilkins; and Norfolkline route director
Andreas Teschl. It is dated September 25.
The letter's signatories accuse the trust port of carrying through the
outsourcing process "with indecent and unnecessary haste". Although the port
has justified its action by its proposals to build a second terminal, the
operators say that "there is certainly no urgency" on this score.
They added: "The impression has been given to all that this process has been
undertaken at the behest of one or more of its customers. This is simply not
true and we wish to make clear that this restructuring has been presented to
us as a fait accompli over which we have had no choice and very little
consultation."
Dover Harbour Board chief executive Bob Goldfield is said to have promised
tranparency, but in practice meetings with the operators have been
"unhelpful" and the extent of savings to the port have been "concealed".
The three ferry companies said that it was "totally unacceptable" for Dover
Harbour Board to pocket all the savings resulting from the changes and said
they "expect to receive a permanent tariff reduction reflecting the full
amount of the savings".
In the final paragraph, the signatories wrote: "In summary, we believe that
Dover Harbour Board is abusing its dominant position, is not acting in the
interest of its stakeholders by ensuring a smooth transition to outsourced
services, and is following a process which is designed to minimise our
choices in this matter and will lead to significant extra costs for all
operators."
Dover Harbour Board said: "The issues raised in the letter have been
discussed at length with the ferry operators and have been resolved in the
two months that have passed since it was received."
However, a representative of P&O Ferries, who said he was speaking for
SeaFrance and Norfolkline as well, contradicted the port spokesman, saying
that issues were still outstanding. However, he was unwilling to elaborate
on what they were, owing to the sensitivity of the industrial relations
situation.
Brendan Gold, Unite's national secretary for docks and waterways, said:
"This comes as no surprise to me whatsoever. Bob Goldfield has had total
disregard and contempt for his workforce. He seems to be self-centred and
determined, irrespective of other stakeholders' views."
Mr Gold pointed out that the Dover workforce was not militant, and had not
even participated in the strike against the abolition of the National Dock
Labour Board in 1989, the last nationwide dockers' strike in Britain.
"They have engaged with the port through our stewards over the years,
through market testing, to make sure they are competitive. I've never
believed the management case, and I don't think there is a logical argument
for outsourcing 190 jobs. His case is totally undermined, and I think the
letter reinforces that very succinctly."
Meanwhile, Dover Harbour board has insisted that all operations went ahead
as normal yesterday, despite the start of a two-day walkout by Unite
members, after managers were trained to carry out manual and security
operations. Unite disputed this account, saying that services were limited.
Some port sources indicated that a further stoppage, possibly of four days'
duration, could come as early as next week, although Unite declined to
comment on the suggestion. - 24 November 2008 08:429713Thanks for those interesting posts guys...
This problem obviously now seems far weightier than originally thought. Although its weighty enough to have long term loyal workers being farmed out and fobbed off, it seems extraordinary now that Bob Goldfield didnt do wider research into the possible downside of his actions first. Because as we can now see these developments are unwelcome right across the industry.
Gwyn Prosser said a week or so ago that it was like a return to 1970's management practice. And it certainly looks that way...even more so now upon these revelations.
There is of course a quick solution to the problem that will make everyone happy..yes thats it, youve got it, a return to the status quo.email: dover7@msn.com - 24 November 2008 09:179716Eeeeeeek!!
- 24 November 2008 18:549744See the new hot letter (now also on our frontpage) from Gwyn Prosser MP to DHB calling for the resignation of
Bob Goldfield.
Make sure you read and digest this one...all the latest...email: dover7@msn.com - 24 November 2008 20:269755quite right paul, we could do with a return to the status quo.
unfortunately he is working on a kitchen extension in st margarets. - 26 November 2008 19:029866The Chairman of Dover Harbour Board, R.K.Dibble, has been the recipient of a further eye-watering letter from yet another major port user. He must be afraid to open his mail these days. This time it is from C.B.Madderson, the MD of George Hammonds PLC, and is scathing in its condemnation of the unilateral manner in which the board has acted.
Hammonds supply the stevedoring services for discharging the refrigerated cargoships which call at the port with fruit from Central America and West Africa. The cargoships require the services of the tugs for berthing and departing. The tugs are unavailable due to the entirely forseeable ramifications of DHB's precipitate declaration that they are making a large proportion of essential port staff redundant and that port users are to be lumbered with making their own arrangements in future, much against their wishes.
Dover Express article on the "This is Kent" website:
http://tinyurl.com/6mgrd7
"Private and Confidential" letter from C.B.Madderson to R.K.Dibble (in "Related Content" accompanying the above article):
http://i.thisis.co.uk/274201/binaries/hammonds.pdf - 26 November 2008 21:469875The problems at the port are very fast moving and seem to be updating at a rapid rate. The same has been true of SpeedFerries. No sooner had our pages gone to press than it was all change! The updated situation is on the thisiskent website.
What with SpeedFerries, Woolies and MFI Christmas is looking very grim for a lot of workers. It makes you wonder how much worse the situation can get before we start to see an upturn again. - 27 November 2008 08:399889I agree Kathy and it makes it all the more important and urgent that a Dover business support body is set up sooner, rather than later.
Obviously it couldn't help Woolies or MFI, or any other national chain, but the independant businesses in Dover could certainly be helped.
All Town Centres are made up of retail outlets - shops of all description, but no one is looking after them or promoting them, or in fact, promoting Dover.
With a pretty low-level of spend, we must try to ensure that as much of it as possible, is spent here in Dover.
Ground-floor support is what is needed now.
People poo-pooed the Loyalty Scheme when it was running, but since I've stopped it, I have received literally hundreds of emails of support.
Sadly, there'll be a few more holes in the High Street before too long.
Roger - 27 November 2008 11:049896The holes on the High Street can only be matched by the potholes along Folkestone Rd.When oh when will it ever get repaired and resurfaced.
As for Woolies what a shame..but look on the bright side there could be a closing down everything must go sale before Christmas.Allowing parents to get their kids and grannies presents on the cheap. An Ideal building that would lend itself quite easily for a Primark Store ...whose profits soared last quarter.
As for MFI I have never forgiven them for buggering off from their store at the back of Castle St.The opening of that store was heralded as a corner stone in the redevelopment of the St James car park area.Has a familar ring to it...history could be repeating itself...asda who?Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter) - 27 November 2008 12:009899Interesting point there Marek with reference to Primark, I spent some time in Birmingham in October and couldn't get over the size of the store within the main shopping centre, they were doing great business and the female colleagues that were with me at the time went mad spending big time, it was like the first day at a major store sale, everyday. Manic!
- 27 November 2008 13:219900Barry W-S
Yes Barry I agree.I take the girls to the Primark store in Ramsgate where they stock up on school clothes ,Tshirts,jeans,jumpers etc all for a reasonable price.A Primark store somewhere anywhere in Dover would certainly attract out of town shoppers.Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)