Member Article

Hundreds of jobs saved in MyFerryLink deal

An industrial dispute resulting in the repeated launch of Operation Stack this summer has come to an end as a deal is reached to save hundreds of French jobs in Calais.

The agreement, which has safeguarded more than 400 jobs, was made between Eurotunnel, DFDS and MyFerryLink’s operator, SCOP-SeaFrance, today.

Two former MyFerryLink ships acquired by DFDS from Eurotunnel this summer can now be used by the ferry operator.

Eurotunnel disposed of the vessels after a long-running legal dispute with the Competition and Markets Authority, leaving more than 600 jobs a risk and resulting in around 70 redundancies in Dover.

DFDS Seaways had an offer to save 202 MyFerryLink jobs accepted in the deal.

Meanwhile, Eurotunnel will take 130 staff to work on the Nord Pas-de-Calais ferry, as well as several more in administrative roles.

Eurotunnel spokesman John Keefe said: “If the CMA say they are happy to let us operate a ship then we will run Nord Pas-de-Calais as a slow shuttle in addition to our freight services through the tunnel.

“If they say no, that’s it. There’s not much more we can do.”

Carsten Jensen, senior vice president at DFDS Seaways, said: “This ends a long period of uncertainty for both our employees and our customers on the Channel as this agreement gives us the platform needed to create a sustainable ferry service on the Channel.

“It also means that we have an equal number of French and UK flagged ships on the Channel, making the service a truly Anglo-French partnership, which we believe is in everyone’s best interests.”

A statement from DFDS said: “The additional frequency and capacity of the future operational set-up will enhance DFDS’ offering to both freight customers and passengers.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .