• News & events
• Archived news releases
• 2010 archived press releases
• Government must not play Russian roulette with recovery, warns Woodley
• Premier league football manager endorses campaign to ‘Save Billingsgate market’
• Glasgow city centre ‘bus ban’ threatens jobs, says Unite
• Unite to hold press conference to announce BAA ballot result - 16.00
• Unite members at BAA vote to take strike action
• Launch of campaign as Billingsgate fish porters say “Save the market”
• Unite fears ‘lynch mob’ mentality to public sector pensions
• Unite's reaction to the IFS' criticisms of Osborne's budget
• ‬‪‬‪Strike action set to fizz at Coca Cola’s North London plant‬‪
• Blair memoirs show that it's time to move on from New Labour

Launch of campaign as Billingsgate fish porters say “Save the market”

3 August 2010

Fish porters at Billingsgate market will today (Tuesday 3rd August) launch their campaign to save the historical market in London’s East End.

The market - whose history can be traced back to 1327 - is now under threat because the City of London corporation which owns the market has announced plans to change the way the market is run. There will be a photo opportunity today to demonstrate opposition to the corporation’s plans:

• DATE: Tuesday 3rd August
• TIME: 8am
• LOCATION: Billingsgate Fish Market, Trafalgar Way, London, E14 5ST

The fish porters have the support of London local celebrities and politicians including Ken Livingstone, former mayor of London and John Biggs, London Assembly member.

The highly trained and licensed porters at the market who ensure the smooth running of the successful market have a strong local connection with the community. The proposals of the management of the market directly attacks the workers at the market.

Jennie Formby, Unite national officer, said: “The proposals by the City of London corporation will destroy this important London market. The changes will damage how the market functions and wreck an important part of London’s heritage. The local community and London as a whole must now fight alongside these workers to ensure we can save Billingsgate market.

“The experienced and important fish porters at Billingsgate fish market transport 25,000 tonnes of fish every year and make a vital contribution to a market which generates around £200 million in revenue. If the corporation gets its way the fish porters will become unlicensed and the professionalism of the market will be lost.”

Ken Livingstone, former mayor of London said: “The fish porters at Billingsgate are the heart of the market, they make it the vibrant and efficient business it is. The City of London corporation must reconsider its plans which I believe will damage this important market.

“I support the fish porters in their campaign to retain the market and its heritage. The City of London corporation and the London Fish Merchants Association need to think again and reverse their proposal for the market.”

ENDS

For more information please contact Saba Mozakka, Unite press office on: 07768 693 953.

Notes of editors

The fish porters will demonstrate outside Billingsgate fish market on: Tuesday 3rd August at 8am. Billingsgate Fish Market, Trafalgar Way, London, E14 5ST

Information on the campaign can be found at: www.unitetheunion.org/billingsgate

The 140 porters will leaflet customers of the market and carry placards in their campaign to oppose the changes to the market.

They will be joined by: Ken Livingstone, former nayor of London, John Biggs, London Assembly member and members of the local community.