P&O Ferries has begun consultation with its staff over plans to implement a new rostering system and potential job cuts at its operations department at Dover’s Eastern Dock.
The ferry group aims to increase flexibility of manning arrangements so as to more accurately match staffing with its busy traffic times.
If its proposals go-ahead, a quarter of the workforce would go, with 43 full-time jobs out of a current total of 170 being axed.
Sue Mackenzie, short sea and western channel general manager at P&O, said: “These proposals reflect the changing nature of our business, in particular the future growth in freight volumes around periods of peak demand.
“Customers will benefit from shorter check-in times and less waiting in the port if we can roster more staff in peak periods.
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“We very much regret the proposed loss of jobs and we are briefing our staff and consulting with their representatives very carefully because we need their support,” Mackenzie said.
Pay harmonisation will form part of the consultations, with new rostering arrangements expected during April.
