5 June 2026
RMT Press Office:
General Secretary Eddie Dempsey said: “The launch of this consultation is a necessary and welcome step towards ending the race to the bottom that has blighted much of the ferry sector for far too long.
“More than four years after nearly 800 seafarers were unlawfully sacked by P&O Ferries, there are still thousands of workers in the ferry sector facing low pay, fatigue, and the denial of basic employment rights.
“RMT has long argued that voluntary standards are not enough to tackle operators that rely on exploitative crewing models and refuse to engage constructively with trade unions. The failure of some ferry companies to meet even voluntary charter standards demonstrates exactly why enforceable protections under the law are needed.
“The government’s commitment to a mandatory Seafarers’ Charter with legally enforceable standards on pay, safety and training is the right approach to protect seafarers from exploitation, preventing undercutting and creating a level playing field across the industry that will allow local seafarers to compete for jobs around the UK coast.
“RMT will continue to campaign to strengthen protections for seafarers, improve collective bargaining and ensure more UK Ratings are trained and employed in secure, well-paid maritime jobs.”
END
Notes: Details of the consultation can be found
here.
Unity House
Tel: 020 7387 4771
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