Wightlink has announced that it is looking to axe up to 50 staff members due to rising costs and inflationary pressures, with a total of 160 employees now said to be at risk.
Staff were informed of the mass redundancies – which are hoped to be achieved on a voluntary basis – on Monday, with the cross-Solent operator explaining that the ‘Rostering and Operational Efficiency Project’ is needed to ‘modernise and improve efficiency’, so that the company has ‘the right people in the right places at the right times’.
The project is understood to be part of a 5-year plan to make improvements to the multi-million-pound business, which includes the replacement of the ageing St Faith car ferry.
The Portsmouth-based company – which operates to and from Ryde, Fishbourne and Yarmouth – has confirmed to Island Echo that it has entered a ‘meaningful’ 30-day consultation period with operational staff and the Rail, Maritime and Transport union.
The RMT union says that 160 staff are considered to be at risk, with further information expected later today.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Wightlink has said:
“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.
Article continues below this advertisement “To ensure we are able to continue investing in our people, our fleet and our ports, we are currently going through a 30-day consultation with our operational staff alongside our union the RMT”.
It is thought the company employs around 500 staff overall, with the proposal seeking to get rid of 50 staff roles – approximately 10% of the workforce. However, Wightlink says over 30 ‘new vacancies’ could be created as part of the restructuring, although no further details have been provided.
Despite the reduction in staffing, Wightlink says that there is no proposed reduction to sailings on any route.
The news comes after a turbulent year for the Isle of Wight job market, with major redundancies announced at Vestas, Wyld, Hovertravel, Kingswood, Snows Isle of Wight, Liz Earle , GTI Glazing and the National Trust, among others.
They have way too many “essential staff member” missing issues already that stop sailings. Looks like the “service” for Islanders is going to hit an all time rock bottom if these redundancies take place!
Redundancies won’t make a difference, they could
get rid of the cafe staff and install vending machines only
that would save a fortune on salaries.
It will make a difference. Service will deteriorate. Wightlink operational staff are excellent and efficient.
The redundancy exercise is blatantly attempting to get rid of experienced staff and replace with inexperienced cheaper staff. 50 experienced out, 30 new in on low wages.
Maybe true, but if cuts must be made, cuts must be made.
Better to have a business that can keep afloat than a
business that sinks because they over employ.
The Labour Government have caused this mess with their
clumsy budget, god help the country when they launch
their November budget.
Hold on a moment! I cannot believe that you are blaming the under performance of a private company on the government. I suppose they are responsible too for the rain we had last night. Wightlink and Red Funnel have been a shambles for years. For the life of me I cannot accept that its OK for the Solent to be one of the dearest stretches of water to cross in the world. Someone is having a laugh and it’s not the users of the service.
Geoff. Bentham, former IoW resident but still a regular visitor.
Of course it’s the Governments fault.
They have left many families struggling with less
money in their pockets hence less holidays.
My holidays i have cut down to six a year now because fueling my yacht is
very expensive
I was a wightlink Shareholder but realised jointly shared bussiness never work
Let DFT take over like they are doing with the TOC
It’s about time action was taken on these ferry companies… thoughts go out to those affected by the redundancies as this is a horrible thing to have to go through.
Sadly that’s life.
Give it a rest
So Red Funnel are going bankrupt, unless a buyer or investor can be found in the next 14 days, and wightlink is chopping jobs to keep alive, relevant and reliable. This is genuinely a worrying time for the Island and now is the time for our MPs to earn their huge salaries and protect our only means of connecting with the mainland!
We will soon be stranded on the island.
Lol
St Faith is the only reliable ferry!!
How true that is .
The old ones are the best ones.
Stop paying dividends and offshore “costs” first. Pigs noses in the trough. You have loads of cancellations and reduced capacity as it is through staff shortages. Clearly managed by accountants and not real shipping people.
Exactly right Eric about the money being siphoned out of Wighlink. This is the root cause problem.
No wonder they have to charge £200+ for a return trip. Why does it take 3 staff to load cars on the decks? It’s frequently chaotic…Load 1 row at a time- that takes just 1 person.
So true.
Why not just let the passengers park themselves and drive the ship over? That would help keep the costs down.
Wightlink loading and unloading is highly efficient. No chaos at all. Other ferry companies elsewhere in the UK, with less frequent crossings, are in awe of how Wightlink turn their ships around.
I completely agree. Far superior to Red Funnel in many ways.
That will down to union demands, one person to park the vehicles, one to keep an eye on the first one while he has a smoke break and a third to cover the first or second when they get cold or need a union tea break. Like many industries in this country that have a union controlled work force they get greedy and eventually the comapnies go bust and the union’s scream unfair but it is these same unions who caused the issues in the first place.
People like you make me sick
bembridge barnie is only speaking the truth.
Such a shame some people don’t like to hear the
truth.
Complete and utter rubbish.
Majority of employees spend more time
outside smoking and vaping.
B&M is proof of that.
The till queues are long because the majority of
staff are shirking outside.
FACT, go and see for yourself.
Makes one wonder if many of these businesses over
employ.
Well I agree with that B&M staff always outside i dont shop there only poor people go into that store
I too disagree with your comments. Staff are needed on ferries for safety. On a recent crossing from Yarmouth my wife who is awaiting knee operations struggled across the car deck to our van. She was nearly knocked down by of all things an ambulance which was encouraged to pull out round our van as we were too slow to return to our vehicle by the deck hands. I am old enough to remember the Zeebrugge tragedy caused by a failure to follow safety procedures or is that a price you are willing to pay, Bembridge Barnie, to reduce the staffing levels to match your political views on lazy union types.
It’s possible that those renowned maritime experts the MCA dictate how many bodies must be on hand, but even so, it would be interesting to know how the already self-confessed short-staffed WL, suffering frequent cancellations due to manpower shortage, can claim that there will be no effect on services.
Install vending machines and get rid of the catering
staff.
Costa vending machines for coffee and food vending
machines.
Job done
People like you make me sick
Sickness pills are available from all good
stockists.
The truth always Hurts, you have the right name
Barking.
Either you are Barking mad or are going to the dogs
Woof woof
Rising costs? The investors must be really feeling the squeeze on those dividend margins, with thanks to Rachel’s NI hike!
Just wait until the November budget, people will be
F*uked.
We already are look at you monthly bills people ours has gone up 200 !!!! a MONTH how are we going to live thats just 2 of us…
The world plan is to bring in a social credit system
like China.
The Plandemic was the start of the new world order.
You will own nothing and be happy
Better to reduce staff than keep increasing ferry fares.
Reducing 50 members of staff will equate to a few
million pounds savings.
Every little helps. I wish many other businesses would do
the same.
Tesco, Waitrose, M&S, Morrisons and Asda employ to
many staff.
B&M have more staff standing outside their store smoking
and vaping than the number of staff inside the store.
Reduce the numbers of staff then you won’t need to keep
increasing prices.
I must say the 2 German Companies have the right
idea, they both employ a small workforce and perform
tremendously.
A lot of Companies could learn a lot from Lidl & Aldi.
Are you on drugs or just like being despicable
Why pay employees to do nothing, no wonder
prices keep going up.
Rather than keep increasing prices, decrease members
of staff who are not required.
Comment like yours tells me you have no money or work and you are on benefits
Go live in Germany
The only people that will go are the old employees from the British Rail days. They are all on final salary pensions and are protected from the railway days. They earn fortunes get free unlimited travel as do their immediate family.
Should have stayed under British Rail control,
cheaper fares too!
So fifty jobs to be lost but thirty new ones created or twenty jobs lost and thirty at a lower pay rate for doing the same job. Are P and O shareholders in Wightlinnk.
Why don’t the current staff agree to a pay cut, better to
earn slightly less than being unemployed.
Wightlink are going bust. I give it late October and they will announce it.
I am thinking about buying a dinghy, how else
will we be able to get to the mainland.
May get free 5 star hotel accommodation when reaching
blighty.
Lol
They already cancel ferries due to staff shortages, how will losing another 50 on top of that affect the service, i think we all know the answer, put that on top of a reduction in sailings due to the winter coming in and demand falling and it’s a big problem waiting to happen.
They are cancelling Ferries due to low demand.
If they reduced their fares people would use the
ferries more often.
Sometimes I fancy going to Pompey or Soton
for the day.
Too expensive to justify a short trip for just a few hours
Just talked to a union rep for the company the ones in charge are a discrase think they are adove all the money the top flight are on is insane..this is going to get alot worse redfunnel on it’s knees not looking good.
To be honest Unions cause a lot of unnecessary
problems.
Look at Britain in the 70s, they had more strikes
than a box of Swan Vesta matches.
Lol
Dear Enough is enough… My advice is to take a breather from posting this right wing nonsense you keep peddling. You clearly have too much time on your hands. Why not go and do a bit of volunteering in a local charity shop. This would be a much better use of your time than posting stuff which makes you look silly. Also please would you state your true identity rather than hide behind a nom de plume. My name is Geoff. Bentham. I am happy to reveal this information even though no doubt I will be back on the Wight next summer from my home in Harrogate. Come on Enough is Enough! if you are sincere in what you say then let’s see your true ID!!!
Harrogate home of my favourite tea rooms
Betty’s.
My golf and fishing matey’s call me John, you may
too.
and your surname please, John.
Next you will want my inside leg measurement
Lol