RMT SOS 2020 in the National Assembly for Wales, 9th January 2020

Circular No: NP/0182/19

TO ALL BRANCHES AND REGIONAL COUNCILS.

Our ref: S1/2

3rd October 2019

Dear Colleagues

RMT SOS 2020 in the National Assembly for Wales, 9th January 2020

Further to circular no. NP/0160/19 of 10th September 2019, the Union has organised an event in the Welsh Assembly to lobby Assembly Members and Ministers in the Government of Wales over the RMT’s key campaign aims in the maritime sector.

The event will take place on Thursday 9th January 2020, 1700-1900 in the Pierhead Main Hall of the National Assembly for Wales (Senedd), Cardiff Bay, Cardiff, CF99 1NA.

Your ongoing support for the SOS 2020 campaign is vital and appreciated. Members from Wales and elsewhere, including Eire Shipping and Douglas Shipping are strongly encouraged to attend the SOS 2020 event in the Senedd. The cost of attendance, including accommodation, is a legitimate form of Branch expenditure.

Your Union will shortly distribute SOS 2020 briefing material to assist with this lobbying work. This will set out the reforms needed in the maritime industry to fight the scourge of low-cost crewing and increase jobs and training for seafarers and dockers across Wales.

A number of operators are introducing new ferries in the Irish Sea over the next five years. For example, at the end of this year Stena Line will begin the process of replacing the Superfast X on the Holyhead-Dublin route with the new-build Stena Estrid. The Senedd lobby is part of the fight for more jobs and training for local Ratings on new, existing or refurbished vessels from ports in Wales and across the UK, including ferry companies where we are not currently recognised for collective bargaining purposes.

I would be grateful if you could bring the contents of this circular to the attention of members in your branch and you will be kept updated with all further developments.

Yours sincerely

Mick Cash
General Secretary