Sub-NMW seafarer pay rates in the UK shipping industry

Circular No: NP/089/17

TO ALL BRANCHES & REGIONAL COUNCILS.

Our Ref: S1/7

20th June 2017

Dear Colleague,

Sub-NMW seafarer pay rates in the UK shipping industry

Further to circular NP/076 of 17th May 2017, following our request to the ITF for assistance in updating information on seafarer pay, your union has produced an updated table on rates of pay in the shipping industry below the National Living/Minimum Wage (NMW). These figures are as accurate as can be expected, based on the work of the UK ITF Inspectors.

The attached table again confirms that shipping companies continue to pay thousands of non-UK Ratings shockingly low wages, in order to cut crewing costs and increase profits. It is clear that without Government intervention, employers will continue to directly exploit foreign seafarers whilst excluding UK Ratings from the shipping industry.

Through the SOS 2020 campaign, RMT members and their union are taking concerted action against companies on this table, most recently against Streamline Shipping in Aberdeen, with Irish Sea operators up next. All dates and details of SOS 2020 demonstrations will be circulated as soon as they are available.  

RMT’s public demonstrations and political demands from Government are essential to avert further disastrous losses of Ratings’ jobs and skills across the UK. The information from the ITF has been submitted to the Department for Transport, as evidence to reinforce our arguments in the Legal Working Group on the NMW and Seafarers for Government to take regulatory action to end this shocking and deeply damaging practice.

In our response to the current Low Pay Commission (LPC) review, these updated figures will be used to again highlight the ongoing problem of sub-NMW pay in the shipping industry, which the introduction of the National Living Wage has done nothing to address. If Shipping Branches or members have any additional information they would like to add to their union’s submission to the LPC, please email d.crimes@rmt.org.uk by 30 June 2017.

I would be grateful if you could bring the content of this circular to the attention of all members in your Branch.

Yours sincerely

 

Mick Cash
General Secretary

Examples of Seafarer Ratings pay in UK shipping industry 2017