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PORTERS at Billingsgate, Britain's oldest fish market have launched a mass protest over plans to change the way it is being run by the City of London Corporation.
They fear many jobs could be lost if the traditional porter's license are revoked.
Billingsgate was once the largest fish market in the world, and is certainly the most famous with a heritage stretching back to the 14th century. In 1982 the market was moved to a new 13 acre site close to Canary Wharf, but the current lease runs out again in 2013 and the market may have to move again - probably further out of London.
The Unite Union is leading the fish porters campaign which maintains that licensed porters are central to the character and the tradition of Billingsgate.
A Unite spokesman said: ""Their knowledge of the market, understanding of products, sizes and grades as well as commitment to the job make porters the life and soul of the market.The Corporation of London's changes, if implemented, will damage how the market functions, ruin Billingsgate and destroy the market's heritage." The Union says there in need to change something that has worked perfectly well for hundreds of years.
However, the City of London Corporation, argues that the market needed "adapt to changing circumstances". It said in a statement: "The byelaw relevant to porters, dating from 1876, permits the Superintendent to license anyone of 'good character and fitness' to be a porter," it said in a statement.The license is, therefore, a permit to work but does not guarantee employment, nor does it guarantee standards, which are a matter for employers."
Former London Mayor Ken Livingstone has called on the Corporation and the London Fish Merchants Association to look again at the proposals.
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