Shipping news

HOURS after a lobby of the Scottish Parliament to keep Caledonian MacBrayne ferry services in public hands earlier this month, ministers pressed ahead with the unpopular tendering plans without consultation. Despite the lobby outside Holyrood in Edinburgh and MSPs voting against the plans in December, adverts appeared inviting bids to take over the Gourock- Dunoon service. First Minister Jack McConnell claims that European Union competition law means that all CalMac west coast routes must be opened up for privatisation. Altmark However, the Altmark judgement by the European Court of Justice has cast a doubt on the need to proceed with the privatisation of these essential lifeline services. The court considered the case of Altmark Trans, a German bus company, and decided that it was not unlawful for payments to be made to companies providing essential services and they should not always be seen as state aid. RMT national shipping secretary Steve Todd said that there was no evidence that the executive had been pressurised into privatisation. “As far as we are concerned, we have not been properly consulted about the effects of this tendering process,” he said. He warned that a new private operator would squeeze pay and conditions in order to squeeze profits out of the service. “There are no assurances about what will happen to our members if another ferry operator comes in. “We will ballot the whole Caledonian MacBrayne workforce because it doesn’t just affect the Gourock-Dunoon service, it could have a knock-on effect for the rest of the employees in the company,” he said. Lobby Scottish TUC general secretary Bill Speirs joined CalMac crews at the lobby and said that communities who relied on the lifeline THE government has announced plans to set up a special working party to consider measures to improve the employment opportunities for UK seafarers following a campaign by the union to demand positive action. RMT has pointed out that while ship owners are taking millions from tax payers through the tax concession, they are under no obligation to employ UK shippers. This announcement follows the review of the tonnage tax and the possibility that a training and employment link might be introduced for UK seafarers. However, it disappointing that the government has not been prepared to introduce such a link despite all RMT representations, and the support of over 160 MPs for an Early Day Motion on the subject. They have not completely ruled the measure out. However, the presence of the Chamber of Shipping on the working party makes a firm link unlikely as the government would have to impose a mandatory link on the industry assuming that the working party does not agree to this proposal. RMT is of course represented within this working party and will be arguing for firm proposals. Irrespective of the findings of the working party, it remains RMT’s firm belief that the tonnage tax must be linked to training and employment. RMT have written to the Shipping Minister David Jamieson that action must be taken. In addition, RMT has met with NUMAST under the auspices of the TUC in an effort to boost the chance of a link. Further meetings with the Minister involving all parties are also planned. Tonnage tax update www.rmt.org.uk www.rmt.org.uk RFA escort Ellen MacArthur LONE yachtswoman Ellen MacArthur had some unexpected company as she headed southwards in mid-Atlantic in December in her bid to make the fastest time for a single-handed round-the-world voyage. Just two degrees north of the Equator she met up with Royal Navy frigate HMS Iron Duke and Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker RFA Gold Rover. The two ships were heading northwards from Brazil, and were monitoring Ellen’s progress since she left France and have been updating her website with weather reports. When the yacht appeared in sight of the ships, the crews took the opportunity to offer Ellen full support and cheer her on. SUPPORT: RFA Gold Rover ships’ company cheers on Ellen MacArthur and wish her the best of luck in her solo around the world record attempt. 10 Scottish lobby says no to CalMac privatisation LOBBY: Bob Crow and STUC head Bill Spiers defend lifeline ferry services RMT consider balloting for industrial action after the Scottish Executive invite private bids for life line ferry services from Gourock to Dunoon services were very apprehensive about the future. “Despite the claims of the Scottish Executive in their pursuit of this deeply unpopular action we do not believe tendering is necessary and many support our view,” he said. He pointed to recent report by Dr Paul Bennett of the University of Edinburgh which said that tendering was unlikely to bring “any discernible benefit” to the ferry routes. RMT general secretary Bob Crow insisted that to protect CalMac services and jobs the tendering experiment should be abandoned. “There is ample evidence that splitting up and selling off CalMac’s routes is not only unnecessary but that it threatens to undermine its lifeline ferry services as well as the security and livelihoods of those who provide them. “This is about new Labour’s free-market dogma, and the Scottish parliament itself has voted to reject the plan. “RMT’s first duty is to protect the jobs and conditions of our members, and we are demanding assurances that there will be no worsening of the pensions, pay and conditions of current and future CalMac employees,” Bob said. Re-convened Biennial General Meeting and lobby Tuesday March 8 2005 Calling all shipping members Last year’s Shipping and Docks Biennial General Meeting agreed to reconvene in the House of Commons. The intention of the BGM is to highlight the serious situation for UK seafaring ratings to MPs. The union is inviting as many members as possible to attend and to join a lobby of MPs that will commence at 2pm. Members are advised to start gathering at 11am for a press photograph and start queuing at the House of Commons entrance at 11.30am. The meeting and rally commences at midday. Stena Line deal MEMBERS at Stena Line voted overwhelmingly to accept the 2004 pay offer following a referendum of members. The two year deal, which following long negotiations includes temporary staff, is as follows: Year 1 G A 3.8 per cent increase in basic rates of pay with effect from November 2004. Year 2 G An RPI plus 0.5 per cent increase in basic rates of pay with effect from November 2005 subject to the company meeting budgetary targets. The level of RPI will be calculated according to the figure released in Mid October 2005. Reduction in working hours RMT put strong arguments for a reduction in working hours for all grades bringing daily hours in line with other groups within Stena. In a particular effort to progress the claim, the union said that night workers should be the starting point. The union agreed to submit a detailed paper to the company outlining the case for a reduction in hours. A working party will be set up to consider it. Harmonisation of pay rates RMT requested that there be harmonisation of the OBS rates of pay with those on conventional vessels. The company were not prepared to move on this while the union still had a claim for four weeks paid leave pending. RMT is not happy with this response and intend to pursue the matter further. Pensions RMT put forward a claim for the Stena final salary scheme to be opened up to allow all employees the opportunity to join. Stena claim the scheme is closed to new applications although they allowed the TUPED former P&O staff in (TUPE does not cover pension arrangements). This is an issue which RMT will continue to pursue. 11