CAMPAIGNING FOR SHIPPING

RMTnews :: may 2008 :: www.rmt.org.uk 12 Firstly, I would like to thank all the branches that nominated me to continue as your national secretary for another five years. It is an honour to serve the shipping, docks and offshore members of this great industrial union. I have continued to campaign for improved training and employment opportunities for UK seafaring ratings, the application of the National Minimum Wage and fighting for employment rights all nationalities employed on vessels in UK territorial waters. In Scotland RMT is campaigning for both Clyde and Hebrides and Northern Isles lifeline ferry services to be fully-integrated public operations not subject to EU tendering rules. JOINT TRAINING PROPOSALS A joint document from all sides of the UK Shipping Industry had been presented to the Department for Transport. The agreement seeks enhanced training support for companies that agree on a voluntary basis to train and employ UK seafarers, for a minimum period, extended beyond training time. In return companies would receive increased SMART training funds. Significantly it has been proposed that companies now have an equal option to train ratings as well as officers to fulfill their tonnage tax training commitment. This has arisen following pressure from the union for concessions relating to the tonnage tax. Currently, shipping companies entering the tonnage tax scheme have no mandatory commitment for UK ratings training, only a voluntary one. However, for officers, companies have to train one cadet for every fifteen officers employed. The Chamber of Shipping has agreed that shipping companies should now be allowed within the regulations to train three ratings instead of one officer to fulfill their Minimum Training Obligation should this be a preferred option. In addition, the joint document agrees to examine all SMART rules to maximise the availability of assistance for ratings. Proposals will be presented to the shipping minister in order to obtain funding approval. RACE RELATIONS ACT RMT will continue to press for reform of the legislation that allows foreign national seafarers to be discriminated against in respect of their pay and conditions when working on UK flagged ships. Following pressure from the union the Department for Transport are consulting on changes to the existing legislation. In order to achieve compliance with the legislation the UK government as a minimum will outlaw discrimination against EU nationals. I will be seeking to keep the issue of discrimination on seafarers’ pay firmly on the agenda with support from the RMT Parliamentary Group. Unfortunately, possible changes have been delayed due to the decision to delay changes to the legislation pending the passage of the Single Equality Bill later this year. The union will consider all legal options, including the possibility of backing an individual RMT seafarer who wishes to pursue a case at an Employment Tribunal. NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE The union is seeking changes to the legislation covering seafarers in respect of the National Minimum Wage. At the moment shipowners only have to pay the National Minimum Wage for UK nationals on UK- flagged ships, whilst foreign nationals are exempt. I am working with the RMT Parliamentary Group to get an amendment to the Employment Bill which is currently going through Parliament. Following the work of the group, Baroness Muriel Turner outlined possible amendments in the House of Lords to secure a fairer deal for seafarers. The National Minimum Wage should be applicable on all vessels in UK territorial waters and which are on regular trading routes between the UK and other EU states and the offshore one-port sector. An Early Day Motion has been tabled on the issue by Gwyn Prosser MP and signed by 54 MPs. DEFENDING SCOTTISH FERRY SERVICES The union is committed to campaigning against a further round of tendering of Northern Isles ferry services. The needless tendering exercise for Clyde and Hebrides ferry services enforced by CAMPAIGNING FOR SHIPPING, DOCKS AND OFFSHORE MEMBERS National officer Steve Todd outlined the union’s agenda at the bi-annual general meeting of the shipping, docks and offshore grades meeting in Aberdeen