CHAOS is expected for commuters, school children and businesses dependent on the Strangford Ferry as a week long strike commences today.
Concern has been expressed about the estimated 220 pupils from six schools and a technical college who use the service daily, especially those facing the final few weeks of classes prior to study leave before milestone examinations.
People who use the daily service face journeys of up to an hour-and-a-half when travelling by road around the lough, compared to the quick minutes-long trip from one side of the lough to the other.
Businesses on either side of the narrow channel, from Portaferry, Strangford and neighbouring areas, are also at risk from lack of trade due to the industrial action, it has been claimed.
The strike has been called by the GMB Union and is part of a walk-out by staff in the Roads Service, Rivers Agency, Forest Service and Environment Agency.
Alan Perry, GMB Regional Organisers, said the workers have been offered ‘a huge real-terms pay cut – at just two per cent’ which he said meant that for ‘many workers this is as little as £500 over the year’.
“These workers deserve a decent wage. But many are pennies above the minimum wage for their vital work,” he said
“The Westminster Government needs to get serious and give them a fair pay offer,” he contended.
Strangford MLA, Kellie Armstrong, said the removal of ‘our vital ferry service will cause disruption to many employees and employers’.
“The cost to the public and businesses for the loss of this ferry for a week, must concentrate negotiations between the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) and its staff,” said Ms Armstrong.
She said that though ‘alternative arrangements are being made for school children’ she noted that ‘this disruption comes in the lead up to exams’.
She added that the action is ‘being timed to cause the most frustration and cost to the public’.
“I sincerely hope all parties are able to agree a position and transport connections are no longer denied to the tax paying and ticket paying public who depend on this ferry,” she added.
She said the disruption will also put motorists at risk due to the crumbling roads network on the peninsula.
“The public will face long journeys around Strangford Lough on roads that are more dangerous due to the lack of DfI investment in maintaining rural roads,” she maintained.
Continuing that the Department ‘does not have an alternative skilled staff team they can bring in to ensure our ferry crossing is maintained during the strike’, she hoped road users will take care on their longer journeys during the period without the ferry.
Ards and North Down Borough councillor, Joe Boyle agreed that the action ‘will have a huge detrimental effect on those regular users who depend on the service on a daily basis’.
“There are over 200 students a day depending on the Strangford Ferry Service along with those travelling to their place of employment,” he said.
“Of course we have businesses on both sides of Strangford Lough who depend on the service to drive and contribute to a healthy local economy.”
He added that medical appointments would also be disrupted by the strike, as would ambulance services which use the ferry between Strangford and Portaferry.
He said issues surrounding mechanical problems with the ferries and staffing numbers, which arose over the busy Easter period, should have been addressed before the ‘last resort’ of strike action.
“This will impact hugely on the traffic flow on the A20 from Portaferry to Newtownards which in itself is a rapidly crumbling main road, that in many areas is simply a disgrace where motorists and road users are expected to travel on.
“Ironically in both the Strangford Ferry case and the A20 road, the responsibility rests with the Department for Infrastructure. They really need to sit up and sort out both concerns immediately and without any further unnecessary delay.”
Alan Perry, GMB Regional Organiser, said the strike was part of a walk-out by the Road Service, Rivers Agency, Forest Service and the Environment Agency.
Stating that the workers have been offered ‘a huge real-terms pay cut – at just two per cent’ he said it meant that for ‘many workers this is as little as £500 over the year’.
“These workers deserve a decent wage. But many are pennies above the minimum wage for their vital work.
“The Westminster Government needs to get serious and give them a fair pay offer,” he contended.
The DfI has issued notices on alternative routes for school pupils and students at https://www.eani.org.uk/news/transport-updates
