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Batten backs fish porter campaign
Tuesday, 3rd August 2010
UKIP's London MEP Gerard Batten has backed the launch of the Save the Market campaign organised by the fish porters at the world famous Billingsgate Fish Market.
The Billingsgate Fish Porters have begun their campaign following plans announced by the Corporation of London to change the way the market is run.
The Corporation wants to revoke the laws which govern the running of Billingsgate; the porters believe these changes will damage the way the market is run and destroy an important part of London's heritage.
Every year Billingsate sells some 25,000 tons of fish and generates around £200 million in revenue.
The fish porters are highly-trained and licensed to transport fish across the market. The work they do makes possible the smooth running of the market. Many of the porters are local people who have worked in the market for decades.
Under the proposed changes the Corporation intends not to renew the licensing process that governs the appointment of porters. This will mean that they will become unlicensed and could possibly face redundancy or have to accept new contracts on lower pay. The porters also fear that these moves will lead to the closure of the market on its current site.
Mr Batten said: "I am very pleased to add my support to the fish porters' campaign. They are hard-working people who are trying to protect jobs for themselves and future generations, and to preserve this ancient market.
"There are now few jobs available to local people at a living wage. What these planned moves are really all about is removing workers' protection and bringing in cheap migrant labour that will work for half or less of the pay for a British worker. I wish the porters well and will do what I can to support them."
Click here to find out more about the Save the Market campaign
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