The docks after deregulation

During the twelve months following the abolition of the National Dock Labour Scheme in July 1989 Britain's ports have witnessed a revolutionary period of change, with massive job losses, new working practices, and reports of major productivity improvements. The course of events during the 1989 national dock strike itself partly account for this transformation, but the deregulation of employment and the subsequent intensification of competition in the industry have been the key factors. To date, however, there is very little concrete evidence of a transformation in the performance of Britain's ports.