Serious about the Big Society? Then back the 'People's Port'
17 May 2011
Unite, Britain's biggest union, is challenging the coalition
government to back Dover becoming a ‘People's Port’.
Unite has welcomed yesterday's (16 May) decision by the
transport secretary, Philip Hammond, to re-open the consultation on
the future of the Port of Dover.
Unite has been campaigning against the Dover Harbour Board's
plans to privatise the Port of Dover, as it backs a plan which
proposes that the Port of Dover becomes a ‘People's Port’.
The ‘People’s Port’ would be managed by a board made up of
representatives from the community of Dover, the workers at the
port and representatives of the ferry operators. The board's
proposed constitution will be drawn up, so that there needs to be a
consensus of the whole community before there can be any further
sale and the community must agree to any proposals to make changes
to the running of the port.
Unite intends to take full advantage of the forthcoming
consultation to argue for a 'Peoples Port'. In a recent
ballot, Unite members working at the Port of Dover overwhelmingly
backed the proposal to make Dover a ‘People's Port’. However, Unite
is not alone, the ‘People's Port’ is also backed by the community
of Dover, ferry operators and other port users.
Unite national officer Julia Long said: "The coalition
government now has a golden opportunity to prove there is substance
behind the rhetoric of the ‘Big Society’. The people of Dover, the
workers at the port and the ferry operators all back the ‘Peoples
Port’, that is why the government should make this a reality.
"Unite is going to be doing everything in its power to campaign
to ensure the ownership of the Port of Dover is transferred to its
rightful place - the people of Dover."
ENDS
Contact: Ciaran Naidoo on 07768 931 315
