30 October 2025
RMT Press Office:
Maritime union RMT, will ballot members at Svitzer Terminals for industrial action, following the company's continued failure to apply sick pay in line with long-standing union agreements.
Following the TUPE transfer of RMT members from Solent Towage to Svitzer which provides towage services for the ExxonMobil refinery in Fawley, the union has received multiple reports of management misapplying contractual sick pay.
In one case, a member was forced to repay sick pay to the employer.
Despite repeated attempts by RMT representatives to resolve the issue through negotiation, no progress has been made.
The union maintains that Svitzer is in breach of long-established collective agreements and is failing to uphold the sick pay provisions its members are contractually entitled to.
RMT General Secretary Eddie Dempsey said: “Svitzer’s refusal to resolve this matter shows a complete disregard for their staff and for collective bargaining agreements with us.
"We will not stand by while our members are denied their most basic contractual rights.
"If the employer does not come to their senses, then industrial action cannot be ruled out."
The ballot opens on Thursday 30 October, and will close on Thursday 27 November.
END
Want to receive updates from us? Subscribe to a mailing list
Tagged with: RMT, Eddie Dempsey, Svitzer Terminals, Ballot
Related News
- Halt Tube cleaning contract tender and bring cleaners in-house
- Carlisle Support Services must end pay freeze and return to meaningful talks as Northern revenue staff strike
- RMT blasts big oil and gas for benefiting from Petrofac administration
- RMT slams Avanti West Coast over short staffing at stations and ticket offices
- RMT demands end to outsourcing on publicly owned Northern Trains ahead of Manchester day of action
Latest News
- Halt Tube cleaning contract tender and bring cleaners in-house
- Carlisle Support Services must end pay freeze and return to meaningful talks as Northern revenue staff strike
- RMT slams Avanti West Coast over short staffing at stations and ticket offices
- RMT blasts big oil and gas for benefiting from Petrofac administration
- RMT demands end to outsourcing on publicly owned Northern Trains ahead of Manchester day of action
Unity House
Tel: 020 7387 4771
Email: