JOIN THE SEAFARERS PROTEST ON OCTOBER 16

RMT helpline 0800 3763706 :: july/august 2008 :: RMTnews 16 PROTEST: Dock workers from several European countries successfully protested in 2006 in Strasbourg against European Commission revised port services package, aimed at ‘liberalising’ port services. RMT Parliamentary group members have also held meetings with Ministers demanding that seafarers are covered by minimum wage legislation. A briefing meeting for MPs also took place early in July. The campaign for changes to the existing legislation will now go to the House of Commons and RMT-sponsored MPs will be pressing the government to take action. Unfortunately, the Minister has stated that he does not wish to bring forward changes to the Employment Bill and that any changes would need to be subject to consultation. It would be helpful if members could write to their MPs requesting that they both support EDM 1006 and lobby Pat McFadden accordingly. • Defend seafarers jobs • End to discriminatory practices and social dumping • Stop the imposition of unnecessary EU maritime regulations that threaten jobs and fragment ferry services The 2005 Irish Ferries dispute saw Irish ratings replaced by low- paid East European labour and the continuation of wide-scale social dumping. A ruling by the EU’s European Court of Justice in the Viking case blocking strike action undermines the ability of seafarers and their organisations to combat social dumping. European Transport Federation affiliates from across the EU are sending delegations to protest against these anti-worker developments. The ETF has picked October 16 as it coincides with a seminar on sea transport in Europe. RMT is making arrangements to fund travel from London to Brussels through reserved seats on the Eurostar. Branch Management Funds can be used to further assist in funding other travel or accommodation expenses necessary to attend. Branches need to head office if they wish to take up this offer. Please contact 0207 529 8819. JOIN THE SEAFARERS PROTEST AT THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT OCTOBER 16 2008 RMT SEEKS NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE PROTECTION FOR SEAFARERS Get your MP to join 75 other MPs and sign Early Day Motion 1006 demanding that seafarers are covered by National Minimum Wage protection EDM 1006 EMPLOYMENT BILL AND SEAFARERS That this House welcomes the introduction of the Employment Bill which seeks to clarify and strengthen the enforcement framework for the national minimum wage; further welcomes the fact that the minimum wage applies to non-UK workers provided that they are employed in a UK workplace; is extremely concerned that non-domiciled seafarers working in UK territorial waters or on UK-registered ships are excluded from this protection; is alarmed that this has contributed to poverty wages and widespread exploitation of non-domiciled seafarers on UK ships and in UK territorial waters; therefore urges the government to amend the Employment Bill to ensure that all seafarers employed in UK territorial waters and on UK ships receive the protection of the national minimum wage; notes that such changes to the minimum wage for seafarers were first recommended by the Low Pay Commission in 2000 and would also be consistent with other protective measures already in place for all seafarers such as the Hours of Work Regulations, the Disability Discrimination Act and the Corporate Manslaughter Act. Gwyn Prosser