Irish Sea campaign Day of Action – Irish Ferries

Circular No: NP/0248/18

TO ALL BRANCHES & REGIONAL COUNCILS.

Our ref: S10/1/18

16th November 2018

Dear Colleagues

Irish Sea campaign DAY OF ACTION – IRISH FERRIES

Further to circular no. NP/0229/18 of 31st October 2018, to drive RMT’s campaign for more jobs for domestic Ratings on Irish Sea routes you are strongly encouraged to attend your union’s Day of Action against Irish Ferries on Monday 26 November:

Irish Ferries: from midday, Holyhead Port, Anglesey LL65 1DR. The union has obtained evidence that a Latvian Ordinary Seaman is paid a basic €5.51 per hour by Irish Ferries. RMT members will target the 14.10 sailing to loudly raise the need for pay justice and trade union recognition at this company which is a major threat to the long-term job prospects of Irish and UK Ratings. Ahead of the arrival of the new ‘super ferry’ W.B. Yeats on the Holyhead-Dublin route, this action is vital to raise public awareness of Irish Ferries’ anti-trade union policies.

I have written to my counterparts at SIPTU and Nautilus, Joe O’Flynn and Mark Dickinson to notify them of RMT’s actions which are part of the joint Irish Sea campaign all three unions are committed to.

The W.B. Yeats has been bedevilled by technical and other problems which have delayed its introduction by over four months to date. Current speculation is that the vessel will arrive for work on the Holyhead-Dublin route in mid-December. Whenever it arrives, RMT, SIPTU and Nautilus members must be ready to swing into action to raise the profile of Irish Ferries’ damaging and exploitative crewing practices. The 26th November action will build momentum amongst RMT seafarers and Shipping Branches, particularly in Maritime Region 2, for the arrival of the W.B. Yeats.

I repeat that Shipping Branches and members are strongly encouraged to participate in the Day of Action against Irish Ferries. You are asked to contact the National Secretary, who is co-ordinating the first Irish Sea Day of Action, to confirm attendance, at d.procter@rmt.org.uk

SOS 2020 and Irish Sea campaign paraphernalia is available at the Liverpool Regional Office and the cost of travel to attend these and future actions is a legitimate form of Branch expenditure.

Further actions are planned for the Irish Sea campaign later this month and I would be grateful if you could bring the contents of this circular to the attention of members in your branch. You will be kept updated with further developments.
Yours sincerely

Mick Cash
General Secretary