UPDATE: Tunnel services halted
MyFerryLink workers have forced the Channel Tunnel to shut as part of their blockade of the port of Calais over job losses
PROTESTING MyFerryLink staff have again blockaded the port of Calais and forced Channel Tunnel services to stop as part of their protest against the imminent ending of their ferry service.
Blockages started yesterday after the Boulogne-sur-Mer commercial court refused to allow an extension to the ‘Scop’ workers’ cooperative to continue running the service beyond tomorrow at midnight, when their contract with the ferry owners Eurotunnel is set to come to an end.
All ferries to Calais are cancelled in the second blockage in a week and today workers set tyres alight on the tracks 300m from the tunnel entrance and then tried to dig up the tracks themselves.
Eurostar said “Channel tunnel access is currently suspended due to fire on the tracks in Calais caused by demonstrators. Further updates to follow shortly.” However, Eurotunnel later said all services were suspended until tomorrow.
Eurotunnel: 'Calais in chaos - migrants everywhere' after blockade of burning tyres on tracks http://t.co/XV2Csy4OVF pic.twitter.com/t6bds3Kc0n— ITV News (@itvnews) June 30, 2015
Traffic on the A16 was badly affected with queuing freight traffic, which has also led to new bids by illegal immigrants to clamber aboard stranded trucks.
The workers' disruption came after Eurotunnel agreed to lease and then sell two of the three MyFerryLink Channel ferries to the Danish ferry company DFDS. The deal become effective on Thursday and could mean the loss of half the MyFerryLink jobs.
It comes after a legal battle with the British competition authority CMA which ordered the closure of the MyFerryLink service which it said gave Eurotunnel unfair dominance of Dover to Calais transport.
Ferry company P&O has diverted many Calais-bound passengers to alternative ports, such as Dunkerque, but attacked the French government saying "they have effectively abandoned any attempt to maintain security at the port of Calais". It also called on the UK government to get action to restore the link.
P&O Ferries reaction to industrial action at Calais pic.twitter.com/a8WPypCyn6— P&O Ferries (@POferries) June 30, 2015
The decision to sell the ships could mean the loss of about 300 jobs as DFDS has said it only expected to keep about 202 of a total of about 600 staff. A third Eurotunnel vessel which gives work to about 120 people, is being retained by Eurotunnel for freight.
The economy and transport ministries have urged Eurotunnel to pursue negotiations with the Scop members and to find “an acceptable solution with regard to jobs”.
