RMT is to ballot our members on the Woolwich Ferry for action short of strikes in a dispute about redundancies and attacks on terms and conditions.

Ferry operator SERCO wants to get rid of 31 jobs out of 120 who work on board the ferries. RMT fears that shoreside workers will face redundancies when the company have dealt with the onboard staff.

RMT has asked to meet the Port of London Authority over the company's plans to do away with Ship Keepers and the implications of this for safety on the Thames and the Thames Barrier. Unfortunately they have refused to meet us. The Marine and Coastguard Agency has said that it will meet RMT over staffing levels but as yet have not given a date for the meeting.

RMT is one of two unions with members on board the Woolwich ferry, the other being Unite. GMB and Unison also have members in the company. Unfortunately, SERCO refuses to recognise RMT.

RMT members are determined to defend their jobs and conditions, and at this time feel that the most effective way to do so is through action short of strikes, for example overtime bans and work-to-rules.