merchant seafarers - 128 Items Tagged Within News
RFA seafarers take fifth stoppage in pay dispute
Coinciding with Merchant Navy Day, the strike will be the fifth stoppage in our fight for pay justice.
RMT has had cordial meetings with the Ministry of Defence but has not received any improved offer.
All RFA personnel...
Region: National
Tagged with: RMT, Mick Lynch, RFA, Seafarers, Pay, Strike
Tory government fails to protect seafarers as new French legislation comes into force
Effective this Sunday, new French laws will mandate ferry operators like P&O to pay their seafarers the French national minimum wage and enforce limits on seafarers’ time onboard ships.
RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch highlighted the disparity between the...
Region: National
Tagged with: RMT, Mick Lynch, Seafarers, P&O Ferries
P&O boss should be in the dock
Mr Hebblethwaite who is CEO of P&O Ferries company, unlawfully sacked over 700 seafarers just over 2 years ago, was grilled by the Business and Trade Committee over his role at the disgraced ferry outfit.
He admitted dreadfully low wages of £4.87...
Region: National
Tagged with: RMT, Mick Lynch, Seafarers, P&O Ferries, Peter Hebblethwaite
RMT calls for employment protections after zero emissions shipping routes announced
If successful, the government claims the move will bring about zero emission shipping routes connecting the UK to the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, and Ireland.
A pot of £1.5m funding for the fifth round of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition to...
Region: National
Tagged with: RMT, Mick Lynch, Zero Emissions Shipping Routes, Seafarers, Maritime
UK Ratings’ jobs down to 8%, new shipping industry stats show
New official figures show there has been a 38% annual increase in the total number of Ratings jobs in the UK shipping industry, to over 125,000.
However, only 8% are UK Ratings and only 11% of all seafarers are UK residents.
This...
Region: National
Tagged with: RMT, Mick Lynch, UK Ratings, Maritime, Seafarers
Royal Fleet Auxiliary opens ballot for strike action
On Wednesday a nine-week ballot will open after RMT members rejected a below inflation pay offer from RFA management.
RFA have offered a one year deal of 4.5 percent which is unacceptable to RMT members.
Over 500 RFA seafarers will...
Region: National
Tagged with: RFA, Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Seafarers, RMT, Mick Lynch
World Maritime Day
Mick Lynch, RMT General Secretary said: “RMT pay tribute to all maritime workers in the seas and ports around the UK and internationally on International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) World Maritime Day. “International moves to tackle marine and air pollution risk...
Region: National
Tagged with: RMT, Mick Lynch, Seafarers, World Maritime Day
Merchant Navy Day
RMT General Secretary, Mick Lynch said: “It is an honour to lead the trade union that represents merchant navy seafarers at work today from the northern isles of Scotland to the seas of the south Atlantic.
"Seafarer Ratings are the...
Region: National
Tagged with: Merchant Navy, Merchant Navy Day, RMT, Mick Lynch, Seafarers
RMT responds to bilateral seafarer agreement
Bilateral agreements with other nations on short sea shipping routes from the UK were part of the Government’s Nine Point Plan in response to P&O Ferries and DP World’s unlawful attacks on 786 UK seafarers and apprentices sixteen months ago.
The...
Region: National
Tagged with: RMT, Mick Lynch, Seafarers,
Thousands of seafarers will miss out on NMW increase
From April 1, the national minimum wage will rise by 9.7 percent from £9.50 to £10.42 for all over 23 year olds.
However, despite the Seafarers Wages Act being passed, it will not come into full force until next year, meaning P&O...
Region: National
Tagged with: Seafarers, National Minimum Wage, NMW, RMT, Mick Lynch
70 percent of sacked P&O workers have left the industry
On the anniversary of P&O Ferries dismissing 786 seafarers, RMT release findings of a survey of those who worked for the disgraced company in Deck, Engine, Catering and Onboard Service roles.
The findings are truly shocking, with hundreds of seafarers...
Region: National
Tagged with: P&O ferries, DP World, seafarers, maritime, RMT, Mick Lynch
Disgraced P&O owner DP World profits up by 35%
Ahead of the one-year anniversary when P&O unlawfully sacked 786 seafarers, DP World is raking in huge profits and revenues.
The latest preliminary financial results show:
Revenues up 58.9% (£5.262bn) to £14.196bn
Record profits, up 35% to £1.524 bn ($1.839 bn)...
Region: National
Tagged with: P&O Ferries, DP World, Maritime, Seafarers, RMT, Mick Lynch
RMT kick off week of action ahead of P&O scandal anniversary
786 UK seafarers lost their jobs in an unprecedented and unlawful move, by DP World who own P&O Ferries on March 17 2022.
Staff were informed via Teams they had lost their jobs, escorted off ships by masked security guards wielding handcuffs...
Region: National
Tagged with: P&O Ferries, Seafarers, Maritime, Mick Lynch, RMT
RMT calls for a new deal for seafarers
According to the latest figures , the total number of seafarers employed in the UK shipping industry fell by over 21,000.
Overall, the number of Ratings jobs fell by 28%, although there was a small increase in the number of UK Ratings. ...
Region: National
Tagged with: RMT, Mick Lynch, Maritime, Seafarers, New Deal, Maritime Union
RMT demands welfare protections for Seafarers in government bill
The Seafarers Wages Bill, in its current form, only provides for a limited extension of the National Minimum Wage to seafarers on international routes from UK ports.
The bill should refer to the broader terms and conditions contained in the...
Region: National
Tagged with: Seafarers Wages Bill, National Minimum Wage, Seafarers, RMT, Mick Lynch,
Seafarers Low Pay Commission
The LPC published its annual report yesterday, confirming that they have recommended to the Government that seafarers are exempt from the accommodation offset for onboard accommodation.
RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said: "We are pleased that the Low Pay Commission...
Region: National
Tagged with: Seafarers, RMT, Mick Lynch, low Pay Commission
RMT criticises Home Office over concession over immigration rules affecting seafarers
The Offshore Wind Workers Concession (OWWC) has been extended until 30 April 2023 – the sixth time it has been prolonged.
In the joint letter RMT general secretary Mick Lynch and Nautilus leader Mark Dickinson wrote:
"This concession has...
Region: National
Tagged with: Offshore Wind, Seafarers, RMT, Mick Lynch, Nautilus,
RMT call to Government on Seafarers Wages Bill
Report Stage in the Lords on 26 October is a chance to amend the legislation to cover more conditions of employment than basic pay, and amendments have been tabled by Labour Peers to achieve this.
Mick Lynch, RMT General Secretary...
Region: National
Tagged with: RMT, Mick Lynch, P&O Ferries, DP World, Maritime, Seafarers Wages Bill
RMT calls for seafarer legislation fit to fight P&O Ferries
T he government drew up the Bill after 800 directly employed seafarers were sacked by P&O in March and replaced by low paid agency workers. The Bill is supposed to grant protection to seafarers working in UK waters but the company...
Region: National
Tagged with: P&O Ferries, DP World, Legislation, Mick Lynch, RMT, Seafarers Union
RMT pay tribute to merchant navy seafarers
Mick Lynch, RMT General Secretary said: “RMT pays tribute to the skills and sacrifice of working-class seafarers who have kept this country safe and supplied since the Merchant Navy was established after the First World War, and for centuries before...
Region: National
Tagged with: Merchant Nay Day, Ratings, Seafarers, RMT, Mick Lynch
RMT on ferry passenger numbers and port freight volumes
Despite this, key worker seafarers and port staff contributed to a recovery from the depths of the 2020 pandemic depression. Mick Lynch, RMT General Secretary said: “These figures show the importance of seafarers, port workers and ferry services in national recovery...
Region: National
Tagged with: Seafarers, Maritime, Ferry, Port Freight, Maritime Union, RMT
Tory Government P&O Ferries shame
The Second Reading of the Government’s Seafarers Wages Bill, the core element of the Department for Transport’s 9-point plan in response to P&O’s actions, will take place in the House of Lords later today. RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said:...
Region: National
Tagged with: P&O Ferries, Tory Government, Boycott P&O, D P World, Department for Transport, DfT, Seafarers Union, RMT,
Maritime Safety Week 2022
RMT will shortly be continuing discussions with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to continue our discussions on lifeboat safety. RMT’s key high-level items are: • Maintenance and safety equipment installation and maintenance • Drills- frequency, conditions, location on which drill...
Region: National
Tagged with: Maritime Safety Week, Maritime, Safety, Seafarers, Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Cairnryan P&O blockade set for Monday over job losses
The ferry company sacked 800 workers in March and has since crewed shifts without proper safety protocols and paid poor wages to super exploited foreign workers.
Protesters will start their action from 1.45pm on Monday 6 June.
RMT general secretary...
Region: National
Tagged with: P&O Ferries, DP World, Cairnryan, Seafarers, Sackings
RMT responds to government terminating contract with P&O
The government has cancelled a contract with P&O Ferries after it sacked nearly 800 staff without notice in March.
Reacting to the news, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: "This decision to terminate the Border Force’s contract with P&O is...
Region: National
Tagged with: P&O Ferries, DP World, Seafarers, Sackings
RMT slams DP World
MARITIME union RMT has called for P&O Ferries’ owner to been taken to task for describing the sacking of 800 workers illegally fired and replaced with low paid agency staff in March as an ‘amazing’ job.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch...
Region: National
Tagged with: P&O Ferries, DP World, seafarers, sackings
RMT reaction to new Freeport in Wales
Financial backing has been secured for a freeport in Wales, the UK government has announced.
With eight freeports approved in England and a deal for two struck with the Scottish Government, it is understood that the Cardiff Bay administration...
Region: South Wales and West; South West
Tagged with: Freeport, Wales, Holyhead, Seafarers, Dockers
RMT condemns Hebblethwaite P&O promotion
Mr Hebblethwaite who admitted breaching employment law during a Transport Select Committee hearing in March, by sacking 800 seafarers and replacing them with agency crews, was appointed on 1st April to the new post which has been announced today on Companies...
Region: National
Tagged with: P&O Ferries, Peter Hebblethwaite, DP World, Seafarers, Sackings
RMT responds to Pride of Kent failed inspection
General Secretary Mick Lynch said: “For the third time in a month P&O’s Cypriot flagged Pride of Kent has failed a full safety inspection by the MCA.
“Passengers and hauliers need to know that P&O’s fleet is operated by...
Region: National
Tagged with: P&O Ferries, Pride of Kent, DP World, Seafarers, Sackings
RMT protest Larne port over unsafe P&O ferries
This week the European Causeway drifted for hours in waters off Larne having lost power and had to be escorted back by tugboats.
The vessel was carrying passengers, freight traffic and was being operated by an underpaid, overworked and poorly...
Region: National
Tagged with: P&O Ferries, DP World, Larne, Seafarers, Sackings
P&O protest at Cairnryan port on Friday
Demonstrators will be encouraging passengers not to use the ferries as part of the union's "Boycott P&O" campaign.
Following the unlawful sacking of 800 staff in March, P&O has been embroiled in a series of safety violations on their ferries and...
Region: National
Tagged with: P&O Ferries, DP World, Sackings, Seafarers
RMT responds to European Causeway being adrift off the coast of Larne
"Since our members were viciously sacked on 17 March, this vessel has been detained by the MCA for failing a raft of safety checks.
"The list of offences is now as long as your arm and the Government has to step...
Region: National
Tagged with: P&O Ferries, European Causeway, DP World, Seafarers, Sackings,
P&O U-turn on further cutting of agency worker pay
The union had received reports of agency workers being forced to sign new contracts that reduced their pay to drastically low levels.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Due to the pressure from RMT seafarers, P&O have been prevented...
Region: National
Tagged with: P&O Ferries, Seafarers, Sackings, DP World
DP World protest against P&O sackings
Organised by the International Transport Federation in London outside the offices of DP World, 16 Palace Street London SW1E 5JQ, RMT activists will be keeping up their “Fair Ferries campaign” and calling for the re-instatement of all 800 sacked seafarers. ITF inspectors...
Region: National
Tagged with: P&O Ferries, DP World, Seafarers, Sackings
P&O demonstrations continue this week
Delays at Dover have been compounded by P&O's ruthless actions and the embattled Dubai owned company says no ship will sail until April 19.
The events that we have planned this week are as follows:
Hull
4pm Tuesday 5 April
King...
Region: National
Tagged with: P&O Ferries, Sackings, seafarers, DP World,
Unions demand change to end fire and rehire
Last night, ITF, ETF, Nautilus International and RMT projected a video on to the cliffs of Dover and images on to the headquarters of P&O Ferries, demanding that the company be brought to task for its immoral and illegal actions....
Region: National
Tagged with: P&O Ferries, Sackings, Seafarers, ITF, Nautilus International, ETF
P&O / DP World protest in Portsmouth tomorrow
Although there is no direct P&O presence in Portsmouth, DP World the parent company are to provide services to the Solent Freeport at Taxpayer expense and Condor Ferries continue exploiting the same disgusting scheme of no minimum wage for overseas...
Region: National
Tagged with: P&O Ferries, Seafarers, Sackings, DP World
RMT in P&O talks today
General Secretary Mick Lynch said:
"RMT is meeting with DFDS, Stena and the DfT today to discuss the ongoing crisis from P&O's illegal dismissal of its crews.
"P&O need to immediately withdraw the false and arbitrary deadline for staff sign-up...
Region: National
Tagged with: P&O Ferries, Seafarers, Sackings,
Pride of Kent detained
RMT tonight welcomed the MCA detention of another P&O vessel the Pride of Kent in Dover for what the union believes are multiple safety and operational breaches, including the wearing of breathing apparatus, and demanded again that the Government seize...
Region: National
Tagged with: P&O Ferries, Pride of Kent, Seafarers, Sackings,
RMT and Nautilus raise safety alarm
As Unions give evidence to MPs in Parliament this morning, RMT and Nautilus International have written to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) to express serious concern that sacking P&O Ferries crew and replacing them with agency staff who have...
Region: National
Tagged with: P&O Ferries, Sackings, Seafarers, Nautilus International, RMT
RMT calls for immediate P&O injunction
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: "In light of evidence given today by lawyers to MPs, that there have been multiple breaches of the law and the admission of the P&O Chief Executive Peter Hebblethwaite, that the company not only...
Region: National
Tagged with: P&O Ferries, Sackings, Seafarers, RMT
RMT responds to Johnson’s PMQ comments on P&O
“Under pressure from Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister said today that P&O Ferries had broken the law by falling to give the government adequate notice of the redundancies – he has in effect called P&O Ferries liars as the company...
Region: National
Tagged with: P&O Ferries, Sackings, seafarers
Save P&O Jobs
RMT members will be joined by other activists this week in Liverpool for two demonstrations to protest against the sacking of 800 workers by P&O.
The protests will be taking place on Weds 23rd March 0700 and Saturday 26th March 0700 at the...
Region: North West
Tagged with: P&O Ferries, Sackings, Seafarers
P&O bullying
Maritime Union RMT tonight slammed what it described as a "disgusting statement" from P&O Ferries trying to justify one of the most shameful acts by any employer in recent history Sacked seafarers have been basically told that if they don’t...
Region: National
Tagged with: P&O ferries, Sackings, Seafarers
P&O sacking demonstrations this week
RMT is organising mass demonstrations at ports up and down the country, to show DP World and the government that public anger is growing over the sacking of 800 P&O staff.
Protests will take place in Liverpool, Hull, Larne in Northern...
Region: National
Tagged with: P&O ferries, Sackings, seafarers,
P&O ferry crews replaced by seafarers on 2.38 dollars
Commenting on the revelation RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said,
“The news that the seafarers now on ships in British ports are to be paid 2.38 dollars an hour is a shocking exploitation of those Seafarers and another gut-wrenching betrayal of...
Region: National
Tagged with: P&O Ferries, Seafarers, Sackings, UK Seafarers
DP World refuse to meet union delegation
Unions accused P&O of treating their members with complete contempt after their owners, DP World, refused to meet the general secretaries of RMT, Nautilus and the TUC who were attending a protest at their headquarters this lunchtime. RMT General Secretary...
Region: National
Tagged with: P&O ferries, DB World, Seafarers, Sackings,
RMT calls on Boris Johnson to meet a delegation of sacked P&O workers
RMT has called on Boris Johnson to meet a delegation of sacked P&O workers as it emerged the government have delayed taking action on legislation that would have protected workers for over two years. The Union has pointed to commitments...
Region: National
Tagged with: P&O ferries, sacked seafarers,
New crew on P&O ships will be paid at rates well below minimum wage
The union have supported their claim by pointing to the example of the two P&O ships on the Liverpool-Dublin route which have been crewed with Filipino Ratings who were on contracts which paid a basic rate of $3.47 per hour.
Shipping...
Region: National
Tagged with: P&O ferries, Sackings, Protests, Seafarers
P&O Crisis
On the day of demonstrations around the country RMT has called for the implementation of a four-point plan to protect jobs, services and basic employment standards as it's revealed the government knew of the plan to sack workers and disrupt...
Region: National
Tagged with: P&O ferries, Sackings, Protests, Seafarers
RMT organises emergency P&O demonstrations
The company, which is funded by the Dubai Royal Family, stunned workers in a pre-recorded Zoom call, when they informed staff that they were being dismissed and would be replaced by cheap agency labour from abroad. When workers rightly refused...
Region: National
Tagged with: P&O ferries, Redundancies, Protest, Seafarers
P&O sackings
RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said “We are receiving reports that security guards at Dover are seeking to board ships with handcuffs to remove crew so they can be replaced with cheaper labour. "We are seeking urgent legal action and...
Region: National
Tagged with: P&O Ferries, Seafarers, Sackings,
Future of P&O
Responding to reports about the future of P&O and speculation that hundreds of UK seafarers employed by the company could be replaced by foreign labour RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said, “We are deeply disturbed by growing speculation that the...
Region: National
Tagged with: P&O Ferries, UK Seafarers
RMT demands response from the maritime industry to decline in UK Seafarers
SEAFARER Union RMT today responded with concern to the latest Government statistics on UK Seafarers which found UK Ratings numbers continued their pattern of stagnation and decline, with very few in training to fill this gap. Mick Lynch, RMT General...
Region: National
Tagged with: Seafarers, Ratings, Deck Ratings, Numbers, Decline, Jobs,
Pacific Nuclear Transport Fleet workers pay freeze
SEAFARERS’ UNION RMT today called on the Government to reverse a pay freeze imposed on seafarers working on the Pacific Nuclear Transport Ltd (PNTL) fleet. PNTL seafarers have been hit with the 0% public sector pay freeze for 2021-22, despite the importance...
Region: National
Tagged with: Pacific Nuclear Transport Fleet, PNTL, Pay, Seafarers
RMT exposes former Shipping Minister’s lucrative second job
RATINGS UNION RMT today entered the furore over MPs second jobs by highlighting the case of former Shipping Minister, Nusrat Ghani MP who was paid £60,000 per year for 84 hours work (£714 per hour) for ship design company Artemis Technologies...
Region: National
Tagged with: Nusrat Ghani, Tory Government, Shipping Minister, MP, Seafarers, Ratings
RMT criticises the Chancellor for failing British seafarers
SEAFARER Union RMT today criticised the Chancellor’s proposals for Tonnage Tax reform announced in the Budget which made no reference at all to jobs or training for UK Ratings: RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said: “Tonnage Tax was already a...
Region: National
Tagged with: Seafarers, UK Ratings, Tonnage Tax, Red Ensign, Tory Government, Rishi Sunak,
Boris Johnson’s bluster
RMT, the union for UK seafarers, today released figures showing that Boris Johnson’s bluster on Tories supporting UK employment and wage growth is blown away by statistics revealing a massive decline in UK seafarer employment, compounded by poverty wages in...
Region: National
Tagged with: Seafarers, Ratings, Boris Johnson, Conservative conference, Tory Government, UK
World Maritime Day
On World Maritime Day seafarers’ union RMT has called for support for those working across the industry facing continuing threats to their livelihoods as we move forwards from the COVID pandemic. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “On World Maritime...
Region: National
Tagged with: World Maritime Day, Seafarers
RMT demands action on Seafarer jobs
SEAFARERS’ UNION RMT has today written an open letter warning of the consequences for seafarer jobs, maritime safety and economic prospects in Dover and across the country from a failure to tackle anti-trade union employer Irish Ferries’ exploitative crewing model....
Region: South East and Anglia
Tagged with: Irish Ferries, Dover, Seafarers, Ratings, Jobs, Maritime Safety
RMT statement on Seafarer Workforce Report
SEAFARER Union RMT today responded to the International Chamber of Shipping and BIMCO’s Seafarer Workforce Report 2021. RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said: “This is a long overdue report, which again underlines the need to re-build our seafarer workforce. We welcome...
Region: National
Tagged with: International Chamber of Shipping, BIMCO, Seafarer Workplace Report 2021, Seafarers
RMT raises alarm over Government Bill that criminalises seafarers
SEAFARERS’ Union RMT has raised alarm over government legislation criminalising seafarers for saving lives at sea. The proposals, contained in the Government’s Nationality and Borders Bill, are due to be debated by MPs today. RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said:...
Region: National
Tagged with: Nationality and Borders Bill, Seafarers, UK waters,
RMT marks Day of the Seafarer with a call on Ratings to join a union
RMT General Secretary, Mick Lynch said: “Seafarers in the UK don’t know whether they have a future, let alone a fair one as investment in training the next generation of Ratings is practically non-existent. Seafarer exploitation is endemic, from the...
Region: National
Tagged with: Day of the Seafarer, UK Ratings, Seafarers, Minimum Wage
RMT responds to creation of a single enforcement body for workers' rights
RMT General Secretary, Mick Lynch commented: “We need to see more details of the Government's proposals but we are undoubtedly seeing under payment and exploitation level down workers' rights. “Seafarers, in particular, need better enforcement to protect their jobs and...
Region: National
Tagged with: Workers Rights, Seafarers, Transport Workers, Offshore,
RMT calls for action to protect seafarers’ mental health
The challenges faced by seafarers are compounded by the fact they are isolated from family for weeks or months at a time, in what may become an oppressive environment where isolation abounds. Key findings from the survey reveal that over...
Region: National
Tagged with: Seafarers, Mental Health, RMT
RMT uncovers illegal employment practices in the offshore supply chain
Crew on the Panamanian registered Glomar Wave are being paid a day rate of £47.35, working from Great Yarmouth to sites on the UK Continental Shelf. That is £3.94 per hour for a 12 hour day – under half the Government’s...
Region: National
Tagged with: Glomar Wave, Offshore, Seafarers, National Minimum Wage,
RMT move to ballot members over strike action at Stena Line
A company sick pay scheme, agreed with the recognised trade unions, was in place for seafarers and port workers in Stena Line until the start of the pandemic when the employer unilaterally scrapped it, forcing staff infected with or displaying...
Region: National
Tagged with: Stena Line, Sick Pay, Covid-19, Seafarers, Port Workers,
Government security, defence, development and foreign policy review
ROYAL FLEET AUXILIARY UNION RMT today responded to the Government’s Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy. Mick Cash, RMT General Secretary said:
“With all the sabre rattling, the Government has again overlooked the importance of civilian seafarers...
Region: National
Tagged with: Royal Fleet Auxiliary, RFA, Royal Navy, Seafarers, Maritime
RMT slams Board of Trade report
SEAFARERS UNION RMT today responded to the UK Board of Trade report, ‘Global Britain, Local Jobs’ which makes a series of recommendations on Britain’s trading future but contains no reference at all to creating local jobs in the key transport...
Region: National
Tagged with: Seafarers, Ratings, Global Britain Local Jobs, DfT, Liz Truss,
RMT raises serious safety concerns
FERRIES UNION RMT today responded to the publication of the Maritime Accident Investigation Branch’s report into the fire on the Lithuanian registered Finlandia Seaways in April 2018 which resulted in the withdrawal of the vessel from the Rosyth-Zeebrugge route by the...
Region: National
Tagged with: DFDS, Finlandia Seaways, Maritime Accident Investigation Branch, MAIB, Ferry, Seafarers
RMT demand Government action to stop shipowner exploitation of seafarers
RMT General Secretary, Mick Cash said; “The shipping industry says it is seeking a level commercial playing field but today’s figures again show that UK seafarers continue to face unfair competition from low cost labour. We must end shipowners’ use...
Region: National
Tagged with: Seafarers, Shipping, P&O Ferries, DFDS, Stena Line, Condor Ferries, RFA, Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Ratings
RMT warns of quarantine chaos in key industries
RMT has raised its concerns after the DfT convened an emergency summit covering the maritime and offshore industries at short notice this afternoon to outline the Governments plans. RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said; “The Department for Transport has consulted...
Region: National
Tagged with: Covid-19, Red List, Quarantine, Seafarers, Offshore, Maritime, DfT
RMT statement on the Government’s build back better with apprentices announcement
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said; “Instead of listening to the lobbying of crewing agents represented on the Maritime Skills Commission, the Government needs to institute a mass programme of Rating recruitment, using the apprenticeship standards for deck, engine and...
Region: National
Tagged with: Maritime Skills Commission, Ratings, Seafarers, Apprentices, Shipping, Offshore,
RMT raise concern over P&O’s plans for the Pride of York out of Hull
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said: “The Pride of York and its crew kept freight, passengers and cars moving between Hull and the Low Countries for nearly thirty years, including during the pandemic when the taxpayer kept the critical route...
Region: North East
Tagged with: Pride of York, P&O Ferries, Hull, Seafarers, Ferries
RMT demands jobs for British seafarers as Government funds £77 million of Brexit ferry company freight contracts
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said: “It is not enough that these companies actually own ships, these contracts must guarantee British seafarer employment. We will not stand for taxpayers’ money being used to subsidise ferry companies that recruit crew from...
Region: National
Tagged with: Seafarers, DfT
RMT and Labour call on the Government to rescue ferry jobs and services in Hull
Following a meeting in the Port of Hull with Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary, Jim McMahon MP and Shadow Shipping Minster, Mike Kane MP, there was condemnation of P&O Ferries’ decision to close the Hull-Zeebrugge route which would heap more misery...
Region: North East
Tagged with: P&O Ferries, seafarers, ratings, maritime, redundancies, Hull
RMT responds to news of latest savage P&O cuts
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said: “In the summer, P&O Ferries received over £6.6m from the taxpayer on the two Port of Hull routes, including Hull-Zeebrugge. This does not need to happen but P&O’s owners in Dubai have pulled the...
Region: North East
Tagged with: P&O Ferries, seafarers, ratings, maritime, redundancies, Dover, Hull,
RMT Welcomes Minimum Wage Law for Seafarers
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said: “RMT welcome this new law which we have been demanding as part of our SOS 2020 and other seafarer campaigns down the years. Thousands of Ratings jobs around the UK coastline will now be covered...
Region: National
Tagged with: Seafarers, National Minimum Wage, Ratings, NMW,
National Minimum Wage and Seafarers
SEAFARERS UNION RMT today raised the alarm over the impact of the shipping industry’s crewing policies on UK seafarers’ jobs, ahead of an online ministerial roundtable on enforcing new National Minimum Wage legislation for seafarers. RMT General Secretary Mick Cash...
Region: National
Tagged with: Minimum Wage, Seafarers, Covid-19, Maritime,
RMT call for justice for all merchant seafarers on Merchant Navy Day
Mick Lynch, RMT Senior Assistant General Secretary, said: “As ever, we take time to remember the sacrifice of merchant navy seafarers of the past as part of the annual Merchant Navy Day celebrations. “But this year, those celebrations are muted...
Region: National
Tagged with: Merchant Navy Day, Red Ensign, Seafarers, Maritime, Ratings
RMT demands Government action for seafarers
SEAFARERS’ UNION RMT has written to the Shipping Minister, Kelly Tolhurst MP demanding government action over the lack of jobs for British Ratings and the crew change crisis on ACL’s five state of the art roll-on roll-off container ships working...
Region: North West
Tagged with: Atlantic Container Line, ACL, Seafarers, Shipping Minister, Kelly Tolhurst
RMT responds to latest jobs assault
Senior Assistant General Secretary Mick Lynch said; “The rhetoric around seafarers being key workers needs to mean something. These are jobs on lifeline freight and passenger ferries registered on Flags of Convenience that were subject to exploitative pay before the...
Region: Wessex
Tagged with: Condor Ferries, Channel Islands, Ferries, Seafarers, Dockers,
RMT urges greater awareness for Seafarer's Mental Health
Covid-19 has thrown up some incredible challenges for the maritime industry with thousands of seafarers unable to undertake a normal changeover that either has them isolated in some part of the globe unable to return home or stuck at home...
Region: National
Tagged with: Covid-19, Seafarers Awareness Week, Mental Health,
RMT Demands Pension Justice for Maritime Workers
In the week when we acknowledge the courageous work of our seafarers, who continue to provide a service to the UK during the COVID-19 crisis, seafarers' union RMT has produced evidence that shipping employers are providing maritime workers with inadequate...
Region: National
Tagged with: Covid-19, Seafarers Awareness Week, Pensions, Maritime Workers,
RMT warns of massive UK jobs crisis in Seafarers Awareness Week
RMT Senior Assistant General Secretary, Mick Lynch said: “This year’s Seafarers’ Awareness Week comes as employers seek to the use the pandemic to slash jobs, pay and conditions whilst thousands of international seafarers are stranded on cruise ships in UK...
Region: National
Tagged with: Covid-19, Seafarers Awareness Week, Ratings, Jobs, Ratings union
International Day of the Seafarer
SEAFARERS’ Union RMT today launched an appeal to increase UK Ratings’ jobs and restore power to national shipping registers as part of the International Maritime Organisation’s annual Day of the Seafarer. RMT Senior Assistant General Secretary, Mick Lynch, said: “On...
Region: National
Tagged with: International Day of the Seafarer, seafarers, ratings, uk ferries
RMT responds to Transport Secretary's comments on P&O redundancies
RMT Senior Assistant general Secretary Mick Lynch, said: “On the day P&O Ferries ends its consultation, seafarers in Dover and Hull will be shocked to learn that they will be thrown on the scrapheap with the blessing of this Government,...
Region: National
Tagged with: P&O Ferries, seafarers, ratings, maritime, redundancies, Dover, Hull
RMT welcomes MCA detention and inspection of cruise ships
SEAFARER Union RMT today welcomed the actions of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in detaining and inspecting six cruise ships in Tilbury and Bristol following serious concerns over the welfare of nearly 2,000 crew members who are stranded on these vessels,...
Region: National
Tagged with: Covid-19, MCA, Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Seafarers
RMT responds to Government’s increase in taxpayer support to P&O
SEAFARER Union RMT has responded to the Government’s increase in taxpayer support to P&O Ferries by demanding that P&O Ferries withdraw plans for 1,100 redundancies mainly amongst directly employed UK seafarers in Dover and Hull. A Written Answer to Hull East...
Region: National
Tagged with: Covid-19, P&O Ferries, redundancies, seafarers,
RMT slams scandal of taxpayer support for P&O shareholders
P&O SEAFARERS Union RMT today reacted with fury following the release of Government contracts detailing the UK taxpayers’ support for roll-on roll-off ferry operators during the pandemic. Critical Freight Grant payments have been allocated to operators to keep essential goods,...
Region: National
Tagged with: Covid-19, P&O Ferries, taxpayer support, redundancies, seafarers,
RMT demands government action to save over 1000 P&O Ferries’ jobs
Over 730 of these jobs are currently held by UK seafarer Ratings employed on strategically vital ferry routes from Dover and Hull to the continent. In his letter, RMT general secretary Mick Cash calls on the UK Government to take the...
Region: National
Tagged with: P&O Ferries, seafarers, ratings, maritime, redundancies, Dover, Hull
RMT welcomes publication of legislation to extend seafarers minimum wage
RMT General Secretary, Mick Cash said: “We welcome this but it is a small victory in the scheme of things. The legislation will secure an enforceable legal baseline, currently £8.21 per hour for seafarer pay on domestic ferry, offshore supply...
Region: National
Tagged with: Seafarers, minimum wage, Ratings, legislation,
RMT reacts with fury to P&O all-out assault on jobs
MARITIME Union RMT today reacted with fury at P&O Ferries proposals for restructuring the business during the Coronavirus pandemic. In a consultation document issued to RMT, the union organising Seafarer Ratings on P&O Ferries’ Irish Sea, North Sea and Dover-Calais...
Region: National
Tagged with: P&O Ferries, Covid-19, seafarers, maritime,
COVID-19 and UK Seafarers
As organisations representing the interests of seafarers and employers in the shipping industry, we are united in our determination to protect the national interest from the economic impact of the COVID-19 emergency. Our members must be empowered by Government, urgently,...
Region: National
Tagged with: Covid-19, Coronavirus, shipping, seafarers,
RMT calls for action now on UK seafarer jobs
Following Hull East MP Karl Turner’s exchange with the Prime Minister in the Commons today, seafarers’ union RMT responded to demand immediate Government action on ferry company P&O jeopardising safety and undercutting jobs in the UK shipping industry by bringing...
Region: North East
Tagged with: P&O ferries, uk seafarers, pride of hull, karl turner mp,
RMT demands government action over P&O
SEAFARER UNION RMT has demanded an urgent meeting with the Government after it emerged that P&O are planning to dump Portuguese ratings from their Pride of York and Pride of Hull ferries next week and replace them with Filipino crews,...
Region: North East
Tagged with: p&o ferries, pride of york, pride of hull, ratings, seafarers
RMT reacts with alarm at new pay abuse on Cyprus freighter
WELSH SEAFARERS union RMT today reacted with alarm at another case of seafarer pay abuse on a Cyprus registered freighter working on a domestic route, uncovered following an inspection of the ship requested by the Union.
It comes the day...
Region: South Wales and West; South West
Tagged with: sos2020, low pay, seafarers, mv maris
RMT to hold 'Save Our Seafarers' protest
Maritime union RMT will be holding a demonstration outside the Welsh Parliament as part of its campaign for the enactment of policies that will increase seafarer and docker jobs in Wales. The protest will take place on Thursday 9th January...
Region: South Wales and West; South West
Tagged with: sos2020, seafarers, ratings, dockers, Wales,
RMT condemns ‘ships of shame’
SEAFARER UNION RMT today responded to the start of London International Shipping Week by calling for action to end the appalling employment conditions for foreign seafarers working on ‘ships of shame’ in the UK shipping industry.
Speaking at the TUC...
Region: National
Tagged with: ships of shame, sos2020, pay, seafarers
RMT demands pay justice for women seafarers
MARITIME union RMT today stated its support and commitment for increasing the number of women seafarers working in the shipping industry, as part of the events and celebrations being held on this Day of the Seafarer 2019.
RMT General Secretary...
Region: National
Tagged with: seafarers, uk ratings, day of the seafarer, sos2020
RMT slams government waiver that allows exploitation
OFFSHORE energy union RMT today attacked the Government’s decision to grant another waiver from immigration rules for offshore wind companies to import non-EEA seafarers to work on vessels that construct and maintain offshore wind farms on the UK Continental Shelf....
Region: National
Tagged with: offshore energy, oilc, seafarers, minimum wage
RMT demands answers as Seaborne Freight scandal
MARITIME UNION RMT today demanded answers from the Government over the terms and conditions of workers on their Brexit ferry contracts, and the publication of their legal advice on the procurement process, as the Chair of the Transport Select Committee...
Region: National
Tagged with: seaborne freight, maritime, ferry, brexit, seafarers, dft
RMT to hold protest in Portsmouth
Maritime union RMT will be holding a further protest on Saturday 12th January 2019 at 7am – 9am, Portsmouth International Port, George Byng Way, Portsmouth PO2 8SP. The latest protest will call for an end to Condor Ferries paying poverty wages...
Region: Wessex
Tagged with: condor ferries, sos2020, national minimum wage, nmw, maritime, seafarers
RMT to hold demo at Condor Ferries
Maritime union RMT has confirmed that members and supporters from the community will be holding a demonstration against the employment practices of Channel Island operator Condor Ferries in Portsmouth on: Saturday 22nd December 2018, at 7am – 9am, Portsmouth International Port,...
Region: Wessex
Tagged with: condor ferries, sos2020, national minimum wage, nmw, maritime, seafarers
RMT response to UK seafarers numbers
RATINGS union RMT today responded with scepticism to the Government’s publication of figures for the number of UK seafarers in the shipping industry, based on data produced by the UK Chamber of Shipping.
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said:
“Today’s...
Region: National
Tagged with: seafarers, ratings, maritime, uk chamber of shipping, dft, department of transport
Merchant seafarer union RMT celebrates Merchant Navy Day
Merchant seafarer union RMT today celebrated Merchant Navy Day by flying the Red Ensign, the flag of the UK Merchant Navy from Maritime House in London and Regional Offices across the country. RMT General Secretary, Mick Cash said: “We are...
Region: National
Tagged with: merchant navy day, merchant seafarers
RMT responds to new UK seafarer statistics
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said: “Increases in the number of Ratings are always welcome, although most of the 9,000 plus Ratings jobs created since 2015 have gone to non-UK seafarers. “The priority remains for the Government to introduce regulations to apply...
Region: National
Tagged with: Seafarers, Statistics
RMT protests in Aberdeen today for SOS2020 campaign
RMT, the union for Seafarers and Offshore workers, will take its SOS 2020 campaign for ending employment barriers to more jobs and training for UK seafarers and offshore workers to Aberdeen today, Monday 26 February. In a two-stage demonstration, the union...
Region: RMT Scotland
Tagged with: sos2020, offshore workers, national minimum wage, seafarers
RMT protests in Aberdeen for SOS 2020 campaign
RMT, the union for Seafarers and Offshore workers, will take its SOS 2020 campaign for ending employment barriers to more jobs and training for UK seafarers and offshore workers to Aberdeen on Monday 26 February. In a two-stage demonstration, the union...
Region: RMT Scotland
Tagged with: sos2020, offshore workers, national minimum wage, seafarers
RMT on increased funding for seafarer training
National Secretary Steve Todd said; "Doubling public funding for seafarer training will always be welcomed by the maritime trade unions. RMT will be seeking further details from the Government on how this will affect the very small amount that is...
Region: National
Tagged with: seafarers, seafarer rating, training, maritime growth study, sos2020
RMT concerns over Government’s Maritime Growth Study Review
SEAFARER RATINGS union RMT today reacted with concern at the findings of the Government’s Maritime Growth Study (MGS) Review, published today. The MGS, published in September 2015 was designed to increase the competitiveness of the UK maritime industries. RMT’s SOS 2020 campaign...
Region: National
Tagged with: sos2020, maritime growth study review, seafarers, ratings,
RMT "SOS 2020" shipping protest in Hull on Saturday
Saturday 30th September, 10am-4pm outside Hull Maritime Museum, Queen Victoria Square, Hull HU1 3DX. A map to the venue is attached and can be downloaded here: https://tinyurl.com/y9zxfg8d RMT will be using the Hull protest to point out that as...
Region: North East
Tagged with: sos2020, hull maritime museum, seafarers, maritime, shipping
Merchant Navy Day 2017
Ratings union the RMT will join the annual Merchant Navy Day celebrations on 3rd September 2017 by flying the Red Ensign from Regional Office across the UK and from Maritime House in London. As part of this year’s celebrations, at two...
Region: National
Tagged with: merchant navy day, merchant seafarers, SOS2020
RMT gives cautious welcome to Govt move on maritime training
Mick Cash, RMT General Secretary said: “Whilst the SMarT scheme mainly benefits officer cadet trainees, RMT is pleased that the consultants’ report to the Shipping Minister recommends increasing the SMarT fund in order to develop and increase the number of...
Region: National
Tagged with: maritime training, SMarT, seafarers
RMT protest in Poole for European Maritime Day of Action
The protest will take place Thursday 18th May, 8.30am, Poole Lighthouse Arts and Conference Centre, 21 Kingland Rd, Poole, BH15 1UG.
As part of RMT’s SOS 2020 campaign the event will be attended by RMT members and other trade unionists who...
Region: South Wales and West; South West
Tagged with: sos2020, european maritime day of action, seafarers
Dover launch of RMT SOS2020 seafarers' campaign tomorrow
As an island nation and net importer, our economic, social and security interests depend upon seafarers and a resilient UK maritime skills base. • 95% of all imported and exported goods in the UK are transported by ship • Over...
Region: South East and Anglia
Tagged with: sos2020, seafarers, maritime
RMT takes Save Our Seafarers 2020 campaign to SNP conference
RMT’s SOS2020 campaign aims to stop the race to the bottom in the maritime sector. The collapse in the number of UK seafarers in recent decades, when numbers fell by over 60%, is directly linked to the widespread practice of crewing...
Region: RMT Scotland
Tagged with: sos2020, save our seafarers, snp
RMT takes SOS 2020 campaign to Scottish Labour Party Conf
MARITIME UNION RMT will be leafleting delegates at the Scottish Labour Party conference on Saturday in a bid to win further support for the Save Our Seafarers 2020 campaign. RMT’s SOS2020 campaign aims to stop the race to the bottom...
Region: RMT Scotland
Tagged with: sos2020, seafarers, minimum wage, scottish labour party conference,
RMT to lobby Scottish Green Party conference
Rail union RMT confirmed today that it will be lobbying the Scottish Green Party Conference in Perth on Saturday 22nd October on the twin campaigning themes of "SAFER SCOTTISH TRAINS" and the recently launched "SAVE OUR SEAFARERS" initiative, the event...
Region: RMT Scotland
Tagged with: sos2020, save our seafarers, safer trains
From RMT Press Office: press picture hand out.
RMT "Save Our Seafarers" protest in Liverpool today at Atlantic Sea "christening"
All of Atlantic Container Line’s (ACL) UK flagged fleet of new ro-ro container ships – the Atlantic Star, Atlantic Sail, Atlantic Sea, Atlantic Sky and Atlantic Sun –...
Region: National
Tagged with: Save Our Seafarers, ACL, Atlantic Sea, Liverpool
RMT says UK Flag is failing seafarers
MARITIME UNION RMT says that new UK flagged vessels like the Atlantic Sea – which is being ‘christened’ in Liverpool tomorrow, Thursday 20 October – are failing the shipping industry by not employing UK seafarers.
RMT members will be protesting with...
Region: National
Tagged with: sos2020, save our seafarers, acl, atlantic container line
RMT Save Our Seafarers and Safer Rail demo at SNP Conf
RMT Save Our Seafarers and Safer Rail demonstration at SNP Conference this morning
Press picture hand out
Credit: RMT
Region: RMT Scotland
Tagged with: sos2020, rmt, seafarers
RMT launches SOS 2020 campaign to save UK seafarer jobs
The Launch will be held in Dining Room A, House of Commons, 4-6pm, Wednesday 12 October. An Early Day Motion has also been tabled today. Ratings are specialist maritime staff with a variety of responsibilities, from the operation of the...
Region: National
Tagged with: sos2020, seafarers, ratings
Maersk announce that shipping fleet is to be slashed
SHIPPING UNION RMT has expressed bitter disappointment today at the announcement that Maersk plans to reduce its current fleet of 56 by 20 vessels.
RMT National Secretary Steve Todd said; “Maersk’s announcement that it intends to get rid of more than...
Region: National
Tagged with: maersk, shipping, seafarers
MP exposes shameful pay and employment practices
Chair of the RMT Parliamentary Group, Ian Mearns MP has tabled EDM 231 to highlight the Government’s failure to prevent job losses amongst UK seafarers on offshore supply vessels (OSVs) or the replacement of UK crew on OSVs with low cost...
Region: RMT Scotland
Tagged with: seafarers, oil, gas, EDM 231
RMT warnings over new National Minimum Wage
SHIPPING UNION RMT said today that putting up the NMW to £7.20 per hour for 25 year olds and over from tomorrow (April 1st) will have the unwanted knock-on effect of pushing more seafarers in the UK shipping industry below the...
Region: National
Tagged with: national living wage, seafarers,
RMT call on Govt and industry to do more for UK Ratings
According to the Department for Transport’s Annual Seafarer Statistics, the number of UK Ratings in the shipping industry increased by 410 (4.8%) in 2015, the first increase since 2011. However, this modest increase was almost entirely confined to the catering and onboard services departments,...
Region: National
Tagged with: uk ratings, seafarers,
RMT Takes Fight for British Seafarers to Heart of Europe
A delegation from British seafarers’ union RMT will be taking the fight for jobs, safety and pay justice to the very heart of the European Union today. RMT will be represented by national officials and branch officers at the...
Region: National
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