Felixstowe Docks in trouble?

jetski690

agent_orange wrote: »

For the employer to make an offer like that, is outstanding. Let's not forget, we're only labouring types - . Full marks to the Port of Felixstowe, I'm sure when things improve we will see the end of the rainbow appear at number 2 gate.

It might appear an outstanding gesture, but the company already has people sitting at home being paid far more money than that because they over recruited last year which has made the situation far worse. At the end of the day it suits the company to retain these people on a small salary knowing that when the new terminal is built in a years time they already have people in place to carry on operations, so I would say if workers do take the offer it's satisfying both sides.

agent_orange_2

Come on Jetski, although there maybe something in what you say, I haven't read of many companies offering anything similar (I'm not sure about auto-makers). Maybe the flexible floaters (don't know what they call 'em these days) should be the first to go, if the worse comes to the worse.

jetski690

agent_orange wrote: »

Come on Jetski, although there maybe something in what you say, I haven't read of many companies offering anything similar (I'm not sure about auto-makers).
The Honda Swindon car factory has done something similar like 4 months off with 85% pay, but personally I can't see people in a position to buy any new cars for a long while as this down turn is here for much longer. I think where the port will differ from any other company is they are working on a new deep water berth while things are quite, hopefully in a years time things should have picked up enough so everything will be in place to go forward. It costs a lot of money to train workers for all the appropriate skills so to retain these skills at minimum costs as I said suits both parties.

Maybe the flexible floaters (don't know what they call 'em these days) should be the first to go, if the worse comes to the worse.

I'm afraid the company will see these workers as the future of the port, being flexible getting called in to do 6hr-8hr-12hr shifts whenever they want (God I'm starting to sound like Pickles now) So I don't think that's likely to happen.

pickles110564

agent_orange wrote: »

Maybe the flexible floaters (don't know what they call 'em these days) should be the first to go, if the worse comes to the worse.

I could upset a few people here, If it was my company the flexible floaters would be the last to go, flexibility is the way forward at the moment in the current climate.

jetski690

pickles110564 wrote: »

I could upset a few people here,

What's stopping you mate, never worried you in the past.

agent_orange_2

jetski690 wrote: »

I'm afraid the company will see these workers as the future of the port, being flexible getting called in to do 6hr-8hr-12hr shifts whenever they want (God I'm starting to sound like Pickles now) So I don't think that's likely to happen.

Agreed, as I said in an earlier post, this will be the worry for the hourly paid.
Dockers know ships run on pretty regular schedules. The thought of a courtesy phone call from your manager to say "don't come in tomorrow, but you'll be required to cover on Saturday night" would fill me with dread.

pickles110564

agent_orange wrote: »

The thought of a courtesy phone call from your manager to say "don't come in tomorrow, but you'll be required to cover on Saturday night" would fill me with dread.

The company pays a premium wage to the employees that are working this contract at the moment and I know of employees that have swapped over to this contract to get the extra money.

agent_orange_2

Pickles, correct me if I'm wrong - are the stay at home floaters on a lower rate of pay, having not been employed for the two year initial contract?

Vinegartits

Forgive me for interrupting this fascinating discussion but you seem to be ignoring the obvious; these are highly unlikely to be the only job-losses - we are only at the beginning of this recession, things will get worse. Companies have to cut costs to survive and un-needed workers will be got rid of one way or another, the most expendable and often the most expensive, first.

Hutchison Ports may want to keep skilled workers for a future up-turn but they won't want to go bust to do it.

pickles110564

agent_orange wrote: »

Pickles, correct me if I'm wrong - are the stay at home floaters on a lower rate of pay, having not been employed for the two year initial contract?

They are on an excellant salary of just under £30k