Vote to Leave the EU to save Scottish Ferries

Transport union RMT will today call for a Leave vote in the forthcoming EU referendum to save Caledonian MacBrayne Ferry services from privatisation.

Transport union RMT will today call for a Leave vote in the forthcoming EU referendum to save Caledonian MacBrayne Ferry services from privatisation.

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash will make the call at a meeting at the Scottish TUC which is beginning its annual congress today (Monday).

Clyde and Hebrides Ferry services, which are currently operated in the public sector by Caledonian MacBrayne, are being put out to tender under EU regulations with Serco bidding to take over the service.  

The Scottish Government has refused calls to announce the winner of the contact prior to the Scottish Parliament elections and the contract was scheduled to be awarded at the end of May but not start until October 2016, after the EU referendum in June.

The ferry tendering timetable was set prior to the EU referendum date being known and RMT believes it will be untenable for the Scottish Government to complete the tendering process under EU rules until after the referendum result is known.

Mick Cash RMT General Secretary said;

“For some time now we have been arguing that the Scottish Government should stand up for Scotland and should stop the tendering of life line ferry services.

“To date they have continued to carry out the instructions of the EU but it is difficult to see how they can conclude the EU driven ferry tendering process prior to the referendum result. That means the referendum provides an opportunity to save our ferry services from this EU directed privatisation.”

“If the Scottish Government won’t stand up for Scotland then the people should stand up to the EU and vote to Leave what is now no more than a corporate cabal run for the benefit of corporations like SERCO who are intent on fleecing Scotland’s ferries regardless of the consequences for the communities who rely on them.”

“People should be in on doubt that if Scottish Ferries end up being privatised the Scottish government will have pulled the trigger and the EU will have provided the gun.”

Ends



Notes for Editors

Mick Cash will be speaking at the Scottish Left Leave sponsored fringe meeting at the Scottish TUC annual congress at Caird Hall, Dundee on Monday 18th April, 5.30pm, Conference Room 6, City Chambers.