Thames megaport threatened by hardline union campaign
UNION tactics are threatening the success of the enormous London Gateway port development, its chief executive has told City A.M.
“The biggest threat to the project is Unite the Union,” said Simon Moore. “They are out to see London Gateway fail.”
Moore said he had to placate his superiors at parent company DP World after Unite boss Len McCluskey wrote to the Dubai-based company with a warning of prolonged protests against the port.
Billions of pounds have been invested in the deep sea port and distribution hub by DP World, which believes it can cut the cost of transporting goods to the south east and directly produce 14,000 jobs.
But last month Unite protesters clung to the bonnet of a car containing Mayor of London Boris Johnson as he visited the site, in a row over collective bargaining.
Unite officer Julia Long said yesterday: “This claim that Unite is holding back the progress of London Gateway is complete twaddle. The management refuses to recognise Unite as it knows that unions will campaign hard for the pay and conditions of its members.”