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www.rmt.org.uk :: october 2007 :: RMTnews 15 R MT is calling on shipping members to provide any information possible to support any RMT representations to industry or government on problems related to seafarers working whilst on leave. Problems related to seafarers working whilst on leave on a temporary basis whilst on rest periods or annual leave from their primary employer have been discussed many times at the RMT Annual General Meeting. It is an issue RMT wish to tackle as this problem could be far more prevalent than previously imagined. It is self-evident that this is not good for the individual concerned, but also it could endanger the safety of vessels, crew and passengers. The union has discussed the problems involved with Nautilus UK, TGWU and the Chamber of Shipping. For example, in one company in Scotland an officer normally employed in the offshore sector was discovered working as a rating on a passenger ferry to gain additional income. There are concerns that this practice is becoming more widespread due to the shortage of skilled and qualified seafarers. FATIGUE RMT is opposed to such ‘moonlighting’ on both moral and safety grounds. The seafarer should have the necessary rest and by working during their leave they place themselves and their colleagues in potential jeopardy. Fatigue will be the inevitable result and we know from maritime statistics that approximately one in three accidents around the UK Coastline have fatigue as a contributing factor. The ‘moonlighting’ seafarer also denies another seafarer a job, and allows shipowners to defer training additional staff to meet the demand that exists in some sectors. There is also a responsibility on companies to discharge their obligations fully. This can be done by reminding seafarers of their responsibilities to ensure they are properly rested but also with appropriate health and safety guidance. In response to RMT’s previous representations in 2006, the Department of Transport declared that it was hopeful that existing international crewing guidelines might be revised to reduce the stress of long working hours and fatigue. However, the pace of international action through the IMO is very slow and this problem still needs to be addressed. DISCHARGE BOOKS Another avenue for dealing with the problem is the issue of discharge books and whether or not ‘moonlighting’ could be tackled with the assistance of the Maritime and Coastguard agency, who issue the books. Unfortunately, the Department for Transport advised us that the MCA did not consider that this would be effective as secondary work may be ashore where no discharge book was issued and, where it was at sea, work could be on local passenger ferries that operate in harbour areas or inland waterways for which a discharge book was not required. EVIDENCE The Chamber of Shipping also advised the maritime trade unions that whilst they were supportive of efforts to tackle this problem, evidence would first of all need to be provided that indicated ‘moonlighting’ was causing a problem. RMT needs to build a strong case, alongside other maritime unions, if it is to influence government officials and the rest of the industry to work on this issue. Your evidence can then be used to support efforts to tackle this problem. Confidentiality is guaranteed and the information provided might enable RMT to identify particular problem companies. Please send in any information to Steve Yandell 020 759 8819 or e- mail s.yandell@rmt.org.uk or Unity House 39 Chalton Street London NW1 1JD R MT is taking legal advice after the Dover-based ferry company SpeedFerries withheld post to its 60 staff from the union. The firm, which operates ferries to Boulogne in France, claims that it is within its rights to withhold post, which outlined the benefits of RMT membership, and claims that “it controls its own mail”. However, the union has pointed out that SpeedFerries clearly do not own the mail as it is addressed to individuals and is deemed their property from the point of source. In a letter to the company, RMT general secretary Bob Crow pointed out that it had breached section 84 of the Postal Services Act 2000, which makes it illegal to “intentionally delay or open a letter or package during the course of its transmission”. SpeedFerries entered into a single union agreement with the officers union Nautilus without the knowledge of ratings on board. Following a local recruitment campaign by RMT shipping rep Malcolm Dunning and activists like Mike Sargent, a third of the ratings on board have already joined RMT. RMT has received messages of support from the French shipping unions and a meeting is planned with them in the near future. SEAFARERS WORKING WHILST ON LEAVE RECOGNITION BATTLE AT SPEEDFERRIES