RMT protest in Aberdeen this week against poverty pay

MARITIME UNION RMT will be demonstrating in Aberdeen this Friday, 21 April, against poverty pay on Streamline Shipping’s MV Daroja. Workers are paid as little as £2.56 per hour on freight routes between Aberdeen and Orkney and Shetland on the Cyprus-flagged ship. Streamline has relentlessly profited from this exploitation, receiving over £3m from the Scottish taxpayer*.

The protest will take place on Friday 21 April, 11.45am, Aberdeen Harbour, Blaikies Quay/Black’s Lane, Aberdeen, AB11 5PU.

Shareholders are pocketing millions in dividends whilst migrant workers are mercilessly exploited and local seafarers excluded from work on a maritime freight route between Scottish ports.

RMT is calling on the Scottish and UK Governments to end Streamline’s profiteering off the backs of seafarers and the taxpayer by:
•             Enforcing National Minimum Wage legislation.
•             Requiring Streamline to comply with Work Permit regulations.
•             Increasing freight capacity in the Northern Isles Ferry Service contract.
•             Reviewing the MV Daroja’s safety record.

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said:
“Poverty pay on Streamline Shipping’s MV Daroja is a disgrace. We call on the Scottish Government to take action, as it did on Seatruck, where it has been agreed that they will pay at least the national minimum wage on the NIFS/Seatruck contract.

"There is no point the company moaning about RMT's campaign to end poverty pay on the ships of shame when it is within their hands to end this scandal.

“ Only a nationalised Northern Isles ferry service can meet the needs of local communities and the seafarers that serve them.”
 
ENDS

*Streamline Shipping Group Ltd accounts 2008-09 to 2014 (period under public contract).

Notes to editors

Streamline Shipping Group Ltd accounts 2008-09 to 2014 (period under public contract)

Northern Isles poor safety record

MV Daroja (Cyprus registered Cargo container carrier, Aberdeen – Northern Isles)

Has a very poor safety record, in addition to paying non-UK crew well below the NMW, as low as £2.56 per hour according to January 2017 ITF inspection. Involved in serious collision off Peterhead in 2015 and was again detained by the MCA on 29 November 2016 for a number of deficiencies, including the internal safety management system: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-flagged-ships-under-detention-in-the-uk-during-december-2016

[1] Government Grants to Shetland Line 1984 Ltd, for six year public contract, May 2008 – May 2014.

[2] Accounting period changes to calendar year. This entry covers 31 March-31 Dec 2009.