RMT to hold Liverpool dockside demonstrations

RMT to hold Liverpool dockside demonstrations

7 August 2019

RMT Press Office:

RMT to hold Liverpool dockside demonstrations over pay, recruitment and justice on Ferry crossings

Maritime union RMT will be holding demonstrations in Liverpool highlighting the scandal of low pay, recruitment of UK and Irish Ratings, and the failure to redeploy our members who worked on P&O’s European Endeavour on the Irish Sea following the sale of that ship.

The demonstrations will take place on Monday 19th August:
• 13:30 P&O - Gladstone Dock, Bootle, Liverpool L20 1BG.
• 16:00 Seatruck Ferries, Brocklebank Dock, Port of Liverpool, L20 1DB (this Demo will target the 18:00 sailing).

The protests will be organised under the banner of RMT’s SOS 2020 campaign, which is committed to ending the scandal of seafarer exploitation and increasing jobs for Ratings on RMT terms and conditions by securing the following reforms:
1. Equal rights in employment, equality and immigration law for UK seafarers
2. ‘Cabotage’ protections for UK crew and ships based on the USA’s Jones Act
3. Statutory targets to train thousands of UK Ratings
4. Improved safety standards in UK shipping
5. Protect the Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s Merchant Seafarers from privatisation

RMT General Secretary, Mick Cash said:

“It is a scandal that after announcing the sale by P&O of the European Endeavour our members were not offered redeployment on one of the company’s other Irish Sea vessels when suitable positions exist.

“Instead, P&O are filling ratings positions on the Irish Sea with agency crew, citing that their ‘business model’ needs to be maintained.

“It is shameful that shipping companies like P&O choose a business model that replaces long-standing seafarers with ‘low-cost’ workers. With this attitude from a major shipping company it is no surprise that of 101,000 Ratings and Officers that make our shipping industry tick, under 20% of these jobs are held by British seafarers, most of whom will retire in the next decade.”

Ends.

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Tagged with: sos2020, p&o, ratings, low pay, maritime,