‘We’re sorry for disruption,’ says ferry union boss…
The union boss who instigated a summer-long blockade at Calais has apologised for the disruption caused to British travellers – but he warned of possible further action next month.
MyFerryLink staff occupied two ferries at the French port and blocked the Channel Tunnel repeatedly from June in protests over job losses when the company, owned by Eurotunnel, was shut down and the ships sold to DFDS.
The disruption to cross-Channel services caused numerous days of tailbacks on the M20 in Kent, for which Eric Vercoutre of the union Syndicat Maritime Nord, which finally reached an agreement with the French government, DFDS and Eurotunnel last week, apologised.
We’re truly sorry about what happened," he said, before warning that there could be more action in October.
"If, on the 1st October, we don’t get the redundancy payments that we’re legally entitled to and our September wages we’ll blockade the port again," he said.
In addition to the redundancy payments, DFDS and Eurotunnel agreed to re-employ 402 Myferrylink workers.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent
Strike action set to cause travel chaos at Brussels airports