Thames keepers to go, warns union

摘要

The GMB Union says it is 'shocked' to learn that, despite the recent Thames flooding, navigation authority the Environment Agency intends to push ahead with plans to cut 90 lock-keepers' jobs on the river. And the Inland Waterways Association says this is further evidence that the transfer of the EA waterways to the Canal & River Trust should happen sooner rather than later. Government department Defra, responsible for the EA (and also for British Waterways before the 2011 transfer of its navigations to CRT), will see its budget cut by £300m over the next two years - one of the tightest budgets of any department. This will lead to an estimated 1,700 job losses this year, and GMB, which represents EA flood defence staff, says a report due out in March will recommend revival of plans to cut 90 residential Thames lock and weir keepers and freeze recruitment.