The engineering workers based at La Collette voted to take action after being reissued with contracts that complete their formal transfer to the Transport and Technical Services (TTS) department. There was a secret ballot but at this stage it is not known what form of action the workers will take, or when. Fourteen of the 40 staff will have to work at a depot at Bellozanne as part of the transfer to TTS. However, Transport and General Workers Union official Nick Corbel said he ‘would be seeking the support of other colleagues if the men decide to take strike action’. If the men strike, St Helier Harbour could be closed to commercial shipping. Assistant to the Chief Minister Ian Gorst, who chairs the manual workers’ joint council, said he was ‘astonished and disappointed’ by the move. He said the men were given a full year’s notice but now say they will refuse to do as asked and take action. Deputy Gorst said: ‘I believe everyone should provide services to the public as efficiently and as cost-effectively as possible.’
