Condor ferries boss says 'no resolution' in dispute

Ferry services between the Channel Islands and St Malo are still suspended, five days after a walkout by French staff.

Condor chief executive James Fulford has been negotiating on board one of the fast ferries in the French port.

The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) said the strike is for fairer pay and conditions.

Condor said the union refused to negotiate over terms it offered two days ago.

Laure Talloneau, from the union, said workers were protesting because they wanted the same rights as their counterparts on the mainland, such as social security benefits.

Affordability question

She said they would stay on strike until they had their contracts changed.

The strike began on Thursday morning when 250 French day-trippers were left on the quayside in St Malo.

Mr Fulford said Condor did not make a huge amount of money on the route, and could not afford to pay much more money to its staff.

On Friday Ms Talloneau called on Jersey's government to pressure Condor into changing the sailor's contracts.

Economic Development Minister, Senator Alan Maclean, said: "At the moment it is a matter between Condor ferries, a Guernsey registered company, and the authorities in France.

"The unions are in dialogue with Condor, all we are concerned about is that the service returns to normal as quickly as possible."