Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
19 November 2008
18:459494Many thanks John for that report from the frontline. Very interesting indeed. The strikers would have wished I expect to have made more of an impact as there has been no traffic holdups and no disruption to shipping. For max effect in any strike these things would need to be achieved. While Im not hoping for mass disruption I nevertheless recognise something along those lines is needed in order to win.
Bob Goldfield said today the strike was "Pointless".
Is he right?
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
19 November 2008
19:119495I do believe he is right PaulB and ultimately it will be the strikers who will end of the worse off for this ill conceived action.
Dave, I bear no malice towards the strikers or their cause but I do think they are wrong to do what they are doing. I am speaking for myself and we have debated the right and wrongs before and there is no point repeating.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
19 November 2008
21:109503what happened to the support of the french port workers?
they promised not to handle ships from dover.
the two days have been a disaster because of them, two lost days pay at this time of the year is hard to take for the dhb staff.
Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,695
19 November 2008
22:359510The union will be paying strike pay - it won't be a full days pay but it will be something
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
27 November 2008
16:369904Well the guys are on strike again, but sadly for their cause there has been no disruption of note. The ships still too and fro without any bother. There is some truck delay in place but Im not sure if this is more to do with the Police testing a new self-segregation version of Operation Stack.
I saw a report on BBC at lunchtime which showed the strikers still buoyant. Simon Jones, BBC's reporter, said there is a story circulating that one ship left earlier with a walkway/gangway still attached to it. There may be more about this later.
One added sour note was interjected by Bob Goldfield. He said if the striking workers didnt agree to be outsourced by February the Dover Harbour Board would go aheasd and outsource without them, rendering them sacked. Pretty abysmal interjection that, to a loyal traditionally non militant workforce.
Guest 641- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,335
27 November 2008
17:519907That's a shocking statement for Bob Goldfield to make, it's every union employee's right to strike for better working conditions etc, especially when you take in to account that it is indeed totally non-militant.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
27 November 2008
18:189913I think his actual statement was that they will have made themselves redundant.
Why is it that both sides are saying they want to negotiate but won't sit round a table ?
Is it that the union and workers are concerned about pensions, status, pay and contract of employment (length of term of contract - ie two years, or something else ?
Roger
27 November 2008
18:419915I am guessing that BG has simply mucked up the whole TUPE thing because he failed to understand it and failed to engage with the people he needed to engage with. Now more than ever managers need to have a broad and deep understanding of legislation and of working practice, as well as considerable charm and tact. He seems to have failed on every single count.
Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
27 November 2008
19:169917Having left the DHB at the end of last June ( thankfuly ) I can tell you that BG was asked time and time again the question " would the port ever be privatized or the workforce outsourced " His reply was always the same ! NEVER !
I know how the guys feel and I would be the same if still there, I give my support every day by driving round the roundabout blowing me hooter. ( I only work 2 mins away from home on foot )
BG is a LIAR and a typical fat cat.
Ian...
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
28 November 2008
12:129934A powerful post there Ian. The strikers struggle on plaqued by bad weather. Its as if nothing is working out right for them. Ive just put a picture on the Members Club anchor page of them marching down the seafront yesterday. I was attracted to them coming by the sound of whistles blowing. I didnt get them all in the shot but it shows the general gist. The picture was taken about 3.30 or something. They were clearly marching from DHB headquarters to take up position with their colleagues at the Eastern Dock.
I saw them marching back the other way at 7.10 last night in the dark shadowed by the Police and still blowing their whistles. It was a long day in miserable comnditions. Good luck to them.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
30 November 2008
10:449990Well the latest strike came and went and once again it made no impact on travel. All the ferries sailed and no trucking difficulties were experienced. The strikers are planning a futher strike on Dec 8 as I understand it. But really with such a non effect on anything, where do the strikers go from here. Is it all "pointless" as Bob Goldfield said?
At the moment the Strike is still getting good media coverage. But if it continues to be ineffective then the TV channels and the newspapers/media websites will lose interest...and once that coverage goes you will be left with a few ineffective strikers standing on the fringes of the entrance to Dover docks, the media circus having flown.
The only road to victory lies in leverage. If you dont have the leverage to bring about stoppage on both sides of the channel you are destined to lose. Our French strikers cause havoc. Its the only way.
30 November 2008
11:269993It is sad when someone so senior and yet so inept is allowed to remain while workers who want to work are abandoned.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
30 November 2008
20:4210023the strike now seems pointless without the support of the people in calais.
i think it would be best to cancel the next strike, then sit down and think what to do next.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
1 December 2008
18:1010047Perhaps it would be a good idea to sit down together and talk about how the guarantees of the new employment - salary, grades, training etc. etc. can be written into their contract.
If the Harbour Board are going to consider that the workers will have made themselves redundant in the new year, to make sure they are still working, shouldn't they listen and talk before it's too late ?
Aren't there other local companies who have outsourced a number of practices ?
Just a thought.
Roger
Ross Miller- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,695
2 December 2008
00:2610084"It is always good to talk"
Having said that, the fundamental question has not been addressed which is why outsource?
If you want more flexibility why not discuss this directly with your work force?
If you want variable hours & staffing to accommodate ship movements why not negotiate with your staff about how this can be achieved?
Of course if your real motive is reduced costs and damn the impact on peoples lives then of course outsourcing is the answer.
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
8 December 2008
09:4210552I have just heard on Invicta FM that this weeks strike has been 'called off' as they attempt to find a solution.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
8 December 2008
18:0510575Thanks for filling us in with the latest info there Marek..yes indeed a quiet withdrawal of strike action has taken place. Oh dear! Have the strikers been defeated, or are there secret talks going on behind the scene to save their jobs. Lets hope so.
So far the strike action hasnt caused the disruption hoped for. Without this disruption or without wider strike action support there is little point alas!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
8 December 2008
20:1310580it is as marek says, breathing space for management and staff to find a solution.
what happened to the french union though?
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
9 December 2008
00:3710605Well it is no surprize that Barryw took the view he did.
And although this dispute should be non political, sadly mr WATINS Barryw and other leading conservatives have stated that they are happy for DHB to go down the privatisation route.
The local conservative candidate probably lost a lot of votes by supporting this view at the last general election.
So its no surprize no conservative cllrs were there.
Its about being honest with the workforce, if your a conservative going on the doorstep in future they should be honest that they support selling off DHB
And believe me should this dreadful thing ever happen, cash raised won't end up here, it will be swallowed up in Govt coffers so don't be fooled.
So well done to all that supported this dispute .
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
9 December 2008
09:0510623No one was talking about selling off the Port Keith - mischief-making again ??
The strike was about outsourcing, clearly a controversial subject, not privatising.
Negotiating is always better than striking, but my understanding was that striking came first.
Whatever happens to the jobs, safety and security must be at the forefront.
Roger