WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH HARMONISATION?

RMTnews :: may 2007 :: www.rmt.org.uk 24 RMT has joined forces with Nautilus UK and the Chamber of Shipping to submit a document to the Department of Transport setting out suggested improvements to training support for seafarers. The document was drawn up following pressure from the union for concessions relating to the tonnage tax. The Chamber of Shipping has also agreed to include ratings training as an option to fulfil the Minimum Training Obligation within the tonnage tax. Shipping companies entering the tonnage tax scheme have no mandatory commitment for UK ratings training. However, for officers, companies have to train one cadet for every fifteen officers employed. The Chamber has agreed that shipping companies should now be allowed to train two ratings instead of one officer to fulfil their Minimum Training Obligation as an alternative option. This has been included within the joint document with a request for enhanced training support for companies that agree to train and employ UK seafarers, ratings and officers, for a minimum period of time. The document has arisen partly as a result of the continued lack of progress from government following the industry joint working party which addressed training and employment measures, including those relating to the tonnage tax. RMT has also had direct discussions with Clyde Marine and Maersk regarding similar commitments and has assisted in persuading the Chamber of Shipping of the need to tackle ratings as well as officers training and employment support measures. CLYDE MARINE The union has also submitted a joint request to the Department of Transport with Clyde Marine shipping agency for improved training support. Following a meeting with the minister, RMT and Clyde Marine agreed to follow up with a formal request. RMT and Clyde Marine have also requested the inclusion of a ratings training option within the tonnage tax and increased financial support for specific ratings courses where SMART funding does not cover the length of the training. Foreland Shipping (Guernsey) Limited Following the introduction of Time On / Time Off, Foreland Shipping (Guernsey) Limited are able to offer employment opportunities in the following rank :- Able Seaman (SG1A) Competitive consolidated salaries and other Company benefits apply. Employment is on vessels operating the UK MOD Strategic Sealift Service and therefore permanent employment is conditional on seafarers obtaining and maintaining Sponsored Reservist status, certain benefits are paid for this requirement. Interested applicants must have sailed in the substantive rank shown above and experience on Ro-Ro vessels will be a distinct advantage. For security reasons applicants must be either British or Commonwealth Citizen’s permanently resident in the UK. If you are interested in the above position, please contact our Agents and Crew Managers, forwarding full CV by post or email to: Bibby International Services (I.O.M.) Limited Shearwater House, Nunnery Mills Old Castletown Road, Douglas Isle of Man IM2 1QA (ref: FSL/04.07) Email: enquiries@bisiom.com Web site: www.bisiom.com CAMPAIGNING FOR RATINGS TRAINING Caledonian MacBrayne Port Committee unveiled their new banner at the Scottish TUC last month. The banner was made by Ed Hall in consultation with the Cal Mac members on Glasgow Shipping Branch and the Port Committee. The Gaelic translations on the back of the banner are - "National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers " - "Glasgow Shipping Branch" and "Socialism". Western Isles Port Committee Chairman George Lonie was joined by general secretary Bob Crow at the ceremony. The banner had its first outing at the annual MayDay march in Glasgow on May 5. CAL MAC MEMBERS UNVEIL NEW BANNER SHIPPING NEWS