16 December 2020
RMT Press Office:
Ferry union RMT to begin balloting for action at Wightlink in pension and terms and conditions fight.
WIGHTLINK UNION RMT confirmed today that it has begun balloting over 400 ferry workers for both strike action and action short of a strike after negotiations failed to produce an offer on pensions and terms and conditions that meets the very reasonable demands of the workforce.
The ballot of all grades – from seafarers to ticket office staff at Wightlink (Guernsey) and Wightlink Ltd – is over the company’s refusal to:
• Withdraw their proposal to close the Defined Benefit Pension Scheme to existing members.
• Withdraw their proposal to reintroduce the flexible working practices which all employees were subject to in the first six months of the pandemic.
Wightlink’s action had been particularly disgraceful due to the fact that at the height of the pandemic (April to September) employees loaned 20% of their salary and gave up terms and conditions for 6 months to allow the company to keep trading. The company have chosen to repay the generosity of their employees by slashing their pension rights and changing their working conditions.
Meanwhile, disgracefully, Wightlink continues to pay out millions of pounds in dividends to its various private equity owners, extracting funds from the company that should be used to support a workforce that has shown loyalty to the firm in these unprecedented times.
The ballot opened on 14th December and the campaign for a massive YES vote is well underway.
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said;
“Our members at Wightlink are angry and frustrated that the company are slashing their pensions and terms and conditions on this lifeline service in what is real kick in the teeth for loyal and hard-working staff.
“It is a particularly bitter blow in light of the fact Wightlink that employees loaned 20% of their salary and gave up terms and conditions for 6 months to allow the company to keep trading at the height of the pandemic.
“Disgracefully, Wightlink has managed to find the funds to pay huge dividends to the various private equity owners that have been feeding off our members’ work for the last five years.
“The ballot has opened and we are campaigning hard for a massive YES vote.
“RMT is looking for the company to the decent thing in the season of goodwill and make a responsible offer to settle this dispute. The union remains available for talks.”
Ends.
|
Year[1]
|
Pre-tax Profits (£m)
|
Dividends (£m)
|
Highest Paid Director
|
|
2014-15
|
10.034
|
None
|
£714,000
|
|
2015-16
|
13.684
|
11.750
|
£278,000
|
|
2016-17
|
21.771[2]
|
14.200
|
£233,000
|
|
2017-18
|
15.040
|
15.300
|
£334,000
|
|
2018-19
|
16.654
|
14.494
|
£348,000
|
|
TOTAL
|
£77.183m
|
£55.744m
|
£1.907m
|
Unity House
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