Disquiet has been expressed by political leaders at the Isle of Wight Council over proposed job cuts at ferry firm Wightlink.
Conservative group leader Councillor Ed Blake and Council Leader Phil Jordan, who heads up the Alliance group, have spoken out following confirmation last week that up to 50 jobs are at risk at the cross-Solent operator, as first reported by Island Echo.
Wightlink has said rising costs and inflationary pressures are in part to blame for the proposed cuts which are likely to affect operational staff roles.
Cllr Jordan has said:
“Ferry services are not a luxury for the Isle of Wight — they are a lifeline, essential for residents, businesses, and healthcare access.
“The introduction of dynamic pricing risks turning the service into one that many cannot afford, while reports of reduced sailings only compound the problem.
“The company’s proposal to cut 50 staff raises a serious conundrum: how can service levels be maintained with fewer people to run vessels safely and reliably?
“Unlike rail or air, ferries face virtually no regulation, leaving Islanders exposed. Without stronger oversight, the Island’s connectivity and resilience are being placed at risk whilst residents and visitors endure reduced services and higher prices.”
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He added that he was not convinced the ferry service model of ownership is satisfactory or of benefit to Islanders.
Cllr Blake has said:
“The losing of any job is a huge deal for the employees involved and this will be hard news to take for them.
“I question the motives for these job cuts though as Wightlink have used a lack of required staff members as a reason for sailing cancellations, so they are obviously in need of all their workforce.
“The business model includes huge debt repayments to the parent company at high interest rates and I suggest that is where Wightlink should be looking to make savings.”
In a statement last week, Wightlink said:
“This project is needed to modernise and improve efficiency, so we have the right people in the right places at the right times.
“Like many businesses, rising costs and inflationary pressures are having an impact with our cost growth being twice that of our revenue growth over the past year.
“We hope to deliver the proposal through a voluntary process, and the suggested changes include no reduction in sailings on any route.”
That’s life if job losses must be made then they must be made.
Companies cannot employ persons just so they can pay
their mortgages, life doesn’t work like that.
Cut the onboard facilities and install vending machines
that will reduce the majority of unnesseccary staff and
these members of staff does not affect safety.
Simple.
Read the article. It clearly states that “the proposed cuts …are likely to affects operational roles”. Those are not people serving coffee and buns on board, these are mariners who operate the craft and ensure safety. Moreover, these are staff that Wightlink have previously claimed are essential and shortages in these roles have caused cancellations. What ightlink should not be doing right noww is contemplating paying any kind of dividend to the shareholders in what is essentally failing business according to their board.
Simple- you certainly are.
What is the difference between Wightlink and the Isle of Wight Council?
Wightlink IS a business, whereas Isle of Wight Council (and its little brothers the Town and Parish Councils, THINK they are a business.
Wightlink has to answer to their shareholders, Directors and Creditors.
Isle of Wight Council answer to NOBODY and just increase the Council Tax and jack up the abominable Town Council precept to an unacceptable level.
That is very true.
The Council charge persons to use toilets and to
pay a nightly charge of £2 after 6pm along seafronts
is criminal.
I use to park along seafronts and then walk the
dog, now I have to park elsewhere and then walk
along the seafront.
The island is stinging island residents.
There will be even more blunt words when wightlink declare they are going bust. The rot has started and this is just the beginning. I give them until end of november then it will be red funnels turn.
But meanwhile they will still pay a huge dividend to shareholders from borrowed money
Better start digging that tunnel… then no worries about staff…
Maybe im an idiot, but common sense would suggest it costs x amount to run each sailing whether its full or not so I’ve never understood why they don’t sell last minute places at a discount especially for islanders. Better the ship is full than near empty. It’s bad management imo. Similarly with the cat where maybe all over 55 year olds travelling off peak pay a set price Monday to Friday. Given the high number of older residents many of whom rarely leave the island due to cost it makes sense to me. Something must be fone to preserve our ferry services which are vital not a luxury.
Keeping the status quo for ferries is not an option, regardless of whether they have shareholders that demand their dividends or it becomes a government or island controlled ferry service which in english means twice the staff, twice the price for half the experience, we continue to assume the ferries are the only option as with the chain ferry, it is not, whether anyone is brave enough actually consider the alternatives on previous experience is debateable.
The trouble with the ferries is, nothing is ever done to force them to perform better. They are being used as cash cows for overseas investors at the detriment of Islanders and visitors. It’s been going on for years with ridiculous pricing and declining services. It should be taken into public ownership or a publicly owned rival service implemented. The ferry companies damage our Island hugely and simply don’t care as long as the investor bonuses keep coming.