Circular No: NP/055/24 Our ref: S1/1
TO ALL BRANCHES AND REGIONAL COUNCILS
4th March 2024
Dear Colleagues
National Demonstration – NO MORE P&Os! Wednesday 20th March
I write to alert all members to the Demonstration that your union is holding, in conjunction with Nautilus and the TUC, outside the Westminster Parliament to coincide with the second anniversary of the P&O Ferries scandal when 786 directly employed UK seafarers, including nearly 600 RMT members were unlawfully dismissed and immediately replaced by international agency crew.
The Demonstration will be held 1-2pm, Wednesday 20th March, Old Palace Yard, Opposite the Houses of Parliament, London SW1P 3JY.
Provisional Speakers: Mick Lynch (RMT GS), Paul Nowak (TUC General Secretary), Darren Procter (RMT National Sec) and Nautilus (TBC).
The Tory Government’s Nine Point Plan has done nothing to punish P&O Ferries or DP World for a shocking assault on RMT members and their colleagues. Labour continue to support mandatory employment rights on short sea ferry routes which would damage P&O, Irish Ferries and others. This would also recover jobs for UK Ratings in the international ferry sector for the long term.
The anniversary of the P&O scandal falls on Sunday 17th March this year which will be acknowledged at the Demonstration on 20th March. RMT members are strongly encouraged to attend this national Demonstration, the cost of which is a legitimate use of Branch funds.
I would be grateful if you could bring the content of this circular to the attention of all Branch members. You will be kept advised of all further developments.
Yours sincerely
Mick Lynch
General Secretary