Woolwich workers finally win gold

Following months of wrangling and a hard-fought campaign with their employer Serco and Transport for London Unite said the award will be paid to all 106 staff at the ferry service.

Woolwich Ferry is a free boat service across the River Thames which is licensed and financed by TfL. The service is operated by Serco Group and carries both foot passengers and vehicles.

It links Woolwich in Greenwich with North Woolwich in Newham and with Olympic events taking place both sides of the river the service is predicted to be "extremely busy" once both sites are in full use.

Unite regional secretary Peter Kavanagh said: "There are going to be days where the workforce are going to be stretched to the limit.

"Once again workers had to fight hard to get their contribution and work recognised. We are pleased that workers have secured a fair award for their extra work over the Olympics."

There has been a ferry service on that part of the river since the 14th century.

It featured in one of the most quoted lines from classic 1980s sitcom Only Fools and Horses when Uncle Albert (Buster Merryfield) asked Rodney (Nicholas Lyndhurst) if he had ever been on a ship.

"Yes," said Rodney, "but it was only the Woolwich Ferry."

tonyp@peoples-press.com