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An MP says he is “deeply concerned” by reports of job losses, pay cuts and changes to working conditions affecting staff at sites used to process migrants arriving by small boat.<\/p>\n
An image seen by the BBC showed there was a proposal to cut 290 jobs across the Manston processing centre and Western Jet Foil in Dover.<\/p>\n
Dover MP Mike Tapp said: “These workers carry out an incredibly demanding and sensitive job on the frontline of our border. They deserve respect, fair treatment and job security.”<\/p>\n
MTC Definitive (MTCD), which manages the sites, says no final decision has been made regarding future staffing levels or the impact on roles, and proposed changes will be subject to consultation.<\/p>\n
The company suggested staff could actually receive an increase in pay following any reorganisation, and 290 job losses would be a worst-case scenario.<\/p>\n
Tapp said he had written to MTCD “demanding answers and assurances” that staff would be protected under employment regulations.<\/p>\n
The MP added he was also raising concerns directly with Home Office ministers.<\/p>\n
“I will not stand by while hardworking people in Dover face uncertainty over their jobs, pay and livelihoods,” he said.<\/p>\n
Mike Jones, Home Office group secretary for the Public and Commercial Services Union, said there was “a real prospect that there may well be industrial action as a result of this”.<\/p>\n
He explained there was “a lot of anger and a lot of despair” among staff, especially from those who he said transferred from other companies to the MTCD on 1 November.<\/p>\n
“Immediately they were put on new shifts that cut their hours and cut the pay,” he added.<\/p>\n
Jones suggests the cuts may be due to a drop of about 40%<\/a> in small boat arrivals.<\/p>\n “There’s a real need for the company to be protecting jobs at the moment and working with the union to make sure that the site is run effectively,” he added.<\/p>\n MTCD said it was hoping to bring separate contracts with multiple organisations together under a single contract and unified management structure.<\/p>\n “We remain committed to open and constructive engagement with our employees and recognised trade unions throughout this process,” it added.<\/p>\n MTCD said it took its legal responsibilities to staff “incredibly seriously” and was engaged in a “full and constructive consultation” with employees and their unions.<\/p>\n “This will seek to avoid compulsory redundancies wherever possible”, the company said.<\/p>\n The Prison Officers’ Association, which was contacted for comment, was having meetings with managers and members at the Manston site as it tried to reduce the impact of the proposed cost savings to limit compulsory redundancies.<\/p>\n The Home Office said it was “committed to ensuring that the operation at Manston is capable of processing migrants securely and safely”.<\/p>\n In April, the Home Office denied there was a “conflict of interest”<\/a> when it awarded a \u00a3462.6m deal to to MTCD to manage the sites after Mitie Care and Custody, a subsidiary of Mitie Group, began a claim to sue the department.<\/p>\n Follow BBC Kent on <\/em>Facebook<\/em><\/a>, <\/em>X<\/em><\/a>, and on <\/em>Instagram<\/em><\/a> and listen to BBC Radio Kent <\/em>on Sounds<\/em><\/a>. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.<\/em><\/p>\nMore on this story<\/h2>\n
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