Sacked seamen take compensation fight to Westminster
Published: 00:00, 25 October 2001
A LONG fight to win compensation for sacked seamen was taken from East Kent to Westminster today. The campaigners are hoping for help in their battle which followed the sacking in 1988 of P&O strikers on cross Channel ferries at Dover.
"Our Campaign For Justice continues," said Steve Stevenson, of Grace Walk, Deal, who joined the delegation to lobby and talk to MPs. Industrial unrest erupted after the company brought in a new work programme, rejected on safety grounds by the union.
National Union of Seaman's funds and assets were sequestrated by a High Court order and the NUS was fined £150,000. Strikers maintained picket lines at Dover for months and P&O sacked 2,000 employees.
Attempts have since been made to seek compensation for those who lost their jobs and Mr Stevenson was hoping today's meeting would help the campaign.
He said a website would be set up outlining the seamen's protests and he would like to hear from any seafarers not on his mailing list. A meeting for Campaign for Justice members will be held on Friday, November 9, at Deal Welfare Club in Cowdray Square, Mill Hill, Deal, at 7.30pm.
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KentOnline reporter