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Angry protesters demonstrated outside Dover Harbour Board (DHB) against plans to outsource them to Port Operators.

More than 30 workers gathered outside DHB’s office as chief executive Bob Goldfield met with Dover and Deal MP Gwyn Prosser and Thanet South MP Dr Steve Ladyman for talks.

The demonstrators claim management has refused to negotiate with unions and say there has been a loss of trust.

Under the new proposals by the board, 190 DHB staff would be taken over by Port Operators or a third party company. This could lead to workers losing final salary pensions and a change in working conditions.

Brendan Gold, Unite's national secretary for docks and waterways, said: "This is simply not acceptable especially in today’s economic climate. It would be a huge detriment to the terms and conditions of employment and pensions of the workers."

Port of Dover is a trust port meaning its priority is to serve the community and the industry before making a profit.

In 2007, turnover increased for the sixth year running, while profit before tax rose to £20.6million.

Mr Gold added: "I fear DHB is forgetting its responsibilities.

"The critical thing to us is to be able to negotiate our issues with the board and the chief executive. He has refused to do that and said he will not meet us until November 20."

Shortly after his meeting with Mr Goldfield, Mr Prosser said: “The news is not good. If there is industrial action I'm sure it would concentrate some minds.

"It would be a very serious situation if this workforce did not show up to do its job one day."