Rest Breaks, Chief Engineers, Lymington to Yarmouth Route – Wightlink Ltd

Our Ref: SH/8/17

2^nd April 2024

 

Dear Colleagues 

 

Rest Breaks, Chief Engineers, Lymington to Yarmouth Route – Wightlink Ltd

 

Referring to previous correspondence, I can report that after a series of long and protracted talks, Wightlink has proposed that all current and future ERC’s will move to the role of Engine Room Watch Rating (EWR) upon successfully completing the following upskilling to allow them to undertake basic watchkeeping:

 

• Undertaking a re-familiarisation utilising an EWR familiarisation form.
• Completing Engine Room Watch Rating Certificate paperwork.
• Attending the required STCW courses comprising of Personal Survival Techniques, Basic Fire Fighting, Elementary First Aid, Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities.

 

Upon achievement of the above and also achieving an ENG1 Medical, the company has proposed that all new entrant EWR’s will be paid an annual salary of £36,153. Upon achieving the above upskilling and their ENG1 Medical, each current ERC would receive a salary increase of £2,000 with the exception of the ERC colleague currently earning £35,230 who would receive a £2,770 salary increase.

 

The upskilling of the Engineer Ratings will allow Chief Engineers to take their rest breaks. These proposals are also beneficial to the Engineer Ratings who will be retrained and receive an improved rate of pay. Having considered this matter, the union’s National Executive Committee has instructed me to advise Wightlink of our acceptance of these proposals. The National Executive Committee has also noted that this settlement represents a satisfactory conclusion to the dispute on the Lymington to Yarmouth route and I have notified Wightlink that our two organisations are no longer in dispute in respect of this matter. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the union’s negotiating team for all their hard work throughout this dispute.       

 

Yours sincerely

 

Michael Lynch

General Secretary