The Port of Felixstowe is Britain’s busiest container port and one of the largest in Europe. It handles over 3.4 million containers a year. I’ve worked here for nearly 27 years, and in that time have seen the Port expand, and its development encroach into nearby sites of special scientific interest (SSIs).
As a child I spent much of my time developing my knowledge of ornithology and the natural world around the previously unspoilt areas before the port’s expansion. As a port employee, I made my priority the balance between growing Port employment and safe-guarding the interests of the local ecosystem.
The Port employs 2,580 people, and I represent 1,900 shop-floor dockers, giving our branch around 94% union membership. I’ve been involved in voluntary work (funded by the Port) to help create and develop the nature reserves surrounding the Port, and when I became a Senior Shop Steward, the TUC offered me the chance to attend a three-day course on understanding environmental issues in the workplace. Port of Felixstowe management were happy to release me to further my education and development on the environmental agenda.
I demonstrated at the course how a non-confrontational dialogue can be progressed between the trade union and management through constructive joint working. I also learned the importance of networking with fellow Green Workplace Reps in other industries, and how we can share resources and review existing workplace policy.
At the end of the TUC course the tutor asked us “What will be your objectives when you return to your workplaces?” One of the course attendees pointed to me and said, “I want to do what Kevin is doing!” I found that comment very rewarding.
Having recognised my work so far and enthusiasm for green development, management invited me to sit on the Port Travel Steering Group, promoting the development of sustainable travel to and from work and at-work transport. This has given me an ideal platform to engage the union in helping to promote incentives for our members, such as cycle to work schemes and car sharing.
With the help of TUC tutors Sarah Pearce and John James, we were able to bring a dedicated TUC Greening the Workplace workshop to the Port. This gave us another great opportunity to promote ownership of the issues amongst dock workers as pro-active Green Workplace Champions, making a real difference to Greening the Workplace.
GUEST POST: Kevin Rogers is Unite’s Senior Shop Steward and Green Workplace Rep at The Port of Felixstowe. He is passionate about the trade union movement and the environment. Outside of his employment and union work, he is a member of the RSPB, Suffolk Wildlife Trust, the National Trust and the Landguard Bird Ringing Observatory.
Port of Felixstowe
The first panel session of the morning 'Putting workers into the driving seat on energy and resource efficiency' featured a Unite project at Felixstowe docks. Both Alan Tinline, environmental manager at the Port and Unite Senior Steward and green rep, Kevin Rogers took to the stage to deliver a joint presentation.
'If we can tap into just 10% of the workforce, that's 250 people on board helping us to make environmental improvements' (Alan Tinline, Environmental Manager, Port of Felixstowe]
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Alan explained how in 2011 the Port had negated its CO2e footprint twice over through use of rail and feeders instead of road transportation, and reduced waste by 70%, pointing to the crucial role played by employees. He said that investment, not just in technology, but in people, was crucial. Alan outlined how the Port had been working with the TUC for about a year because they recognised that 'engaging with the workforce is our challenge':
'If we can tap into just 10% of the workforce that's 250 people on board helping us to make these environmental improvements'
(Alan Tinline, environmental manager,
Port of Felixstowe)
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But this approach has to be done with the full consultation of the union and as Kevin went on to explain, with 96% Unite density out of a 2,500 strong workforce, an agreed joint approach is crucial.
There's no mistaking Kevin's passion for all things 'environmental' and all things 'union'. Kevin sits on the Port's travel steer group that promotes sustainable development and encourages cycling to work and car sharing. He started his half of the presentation with the simple statement 'I'm very passionate about the environment'. And it's not hard to see how Kevin was able to persuade management to give him three days paid release to attend the TUC's Trade Union and Environment Course - on the basis that 'non-confrontational dialogue can be progressed through constructive organising' - Kevin's words.
Kevin and Alan, working together, were able to arrange for the TUC to provide a one day awareness raising course on-site with a network of dockers, all new to trade union green work. Kevin stated that: 'The workshop was the ideal platform to promote pro-active greenworkplace reps'.
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