The following is from a Port Strategy article on ‘Dock labour and port-related employment in the European seaport system,’ a report recently written by Professor Theo Notteboom for the European Sea Ports Organisation:
The use of a casual workforce may save money on its face but has hidden costs like increased property damage and a negative impact on a port's reputation.
Bristol Port Co directly employs all of its own staff in terms of handling operations, marine, office and engineering.
“We went down that track because we felt in terms of handling cargo, whether it is driving your own cranes or handling customers’ cargo, people who are employed every day have a much greater interest in ensuring the equipment is driven correctly from a safety and efficiency basis,” says chief executive Simon Bird.
“By employing our workforce, we are minimising damage to equipment and cargo, and maximising customer service. You can certainly motivate people by putting them on the payroll rather than picking them up one day and putting them down the next.”
This is an issue highlighted by Prof Notteboom, who says ‘hidden costs’ can take different forms. “Cargo damage incidents can generate high hidden costs and negatively affect the reputation of a terminal or port. A high incidence of damage cases might point to a lack of training or a low commitment of the dock worker – absence of a ‘we care’ attitude,” he says.
“Sure, using agency labour will offer lower costs – perhaps in some respects no more than the minimum wage. But if you look at some of the accidents that have occurred at other ports, often it is the use of agency labour that has contributed to these incidents.”