Ports consultation met with overwhelming apathy

Monday 10 November 2014

Just 29 responses out of a population of 99,000 were received to Economic Development’s public consultation on the proposed incorporation of the harbours and Airport.

In October 2012 the States agreed the incorporation of the Island’s passenger and freight gateways into a single, States-owned limited company, the Ports of Jersey Limited, following the combination of the previous authorities into a single body, the Ports of Jersey.

A report published the day after Bonfire Night, in the name of the new Minister, Lyndon Farnham, concluded that as the consultation  “did not grab the public’s attention” the matter was “not of significant interest to Islanders”.

However, it was a hot enough topic for the two trade unions affected, Unite and Prospect, which each submitted complex but largely negative responses, focused on the key concerns of job losses and security and safety at work, as experienced in similar privatisations on the mainland.

Manual workers union Unite said: “From bitter experience of port facilities which have left direct public sector control, in the UK, we have seen safety corners cut, a growth of 'casualisation’ of staff positions resulting in a reduction in staff skill sets and the reduction of maintenance budgets.”

In addition, Prospect, which represents local “white collar” public employees, raised the risk to lifeline sea and air links from placing crucial services in the hands of a financially-driven organisation.

“The wealth of experience of public services and utilities placed into private’ hands shows clearly that the needs of customers too often take second place to the requirements of the financial sector,” the union said.

However, Ports of Jersey Group CEO Doug Bannister accused the unions of trying to provoke adverse public opinion rather than showing real concern.

“It is unthinkable for the ports to compromise on these critical standards for the well-being of our customers, travelling public and employees. Given the national and international regimes within which the ports operate, and that compliance is a condition of our continued operation, we are fully committed to providing open, safe and secure facilities for Jersey,” he said.