SHIPPING NEWS

RMT helpline 0800 3763706 :: july/august 2009 :: RMTnews 10 NEW RATINGS FOR DOVER Recently Dover has seen the arrival of a new fast craft, reportedly the largest of its kind in passenger service. The new vessel named ‘Norman Sword’ operated by LD Lines is sailing between Dover and Boulogne. It is managed by Clyde Marine who also manage another vessel called ‘Norman Spirit’ sailing between Portsmouth and Dieppe/Cherbourg. Both vessels are UK-flagged and have a significant number of RMT ratings onboard. Numerous discussions between LD Lines, Clyde Marine and RMT resulted in agreement that the Norman Sword will be fully staffed by UK ratings and the Norman Spirit will have an additional four UK AB’s. All vessels will also be covered by an RMT agreement and the Norman Sword agreement has concluded. There is still some work to be done finalising the Norman Spirit agreement in regard to the UK rates of pay being applied to non-domiciled seafarers. STOPPING SOCIAL DUMPING AT NORTHLINK, ABERDEEN Northlink has announced plans to replace one of its ships – the ‘Hascossay’ – with a replacement vessel on a Time Charter basis, which means the ship comes with the Polish crew which only received the UK minimum wage. This caused RMT grave concern in relation to the practice of social dumping as the agreement for Polish crews is by far inferior to the conditions enjoyed by UK Ratings on the Hascossay. National secretary Steve Todd, Regional Organiser Ian MacIntyre and Executive Committee member Andy Gordon for the region met with the CEO of Northlink along with other Caledonian MacBrayne managers and told them in no uncertain terms that such practices totally undermine the terms and conditions of RMT members employed by Northlink. The union has been assured that there are no job losses as a result of the replacement vessel and following further discussion it is agreed that the terms and conditions of the crew on the replacement vessel are the same as those enjoyed by members on Northlink. European rules on ‘free movement’ encourages the potential for this kind of social dumping and the union cannot under EU law demand that the present crew of the ‘Saga Moon’ is replaced by RMT seafarers. However, the union has insured no loss of members’ jobs, no social dumping by paying less than other shippers and no undermining of the Northlink agreement. RMT SAFEGUARDS UK JOBS AT JAMES FISHERS RMT has won a new jobs and training agreement with James Fishers at Barrow after the company threatened to seek to employ ratings from overseas under the guise of the Race Relations Act and EU legislation. The company proposed that they may recruit more widely for seafarers to work on PNTL vessels. However National secretary Steve Todd, regional organiser John Tilley and members of the reps committee met with senior management and the owners/operators INS to discuss the matter. RMT rejected the Race Relations Act argument as totally false and merely an attempt by the employer to engage in the social dumping of crews. Following the meeting an apology was issued for any “disquiet/anxiety that the original statement/letter had caused” and joint statement was issued confirming “it was not the policy of INS or JFSS to replace British seafarers with non-UK nationals and the focus for advertising these positions will remain in the UK”. The apology and the statement is welcomed by the union as are the pending recruitment plans and the Trainee Ratings positions. It was further agreed that we will look jointly at ways in which future business decisions, policy and procedures affecting the operation of vessels safety and any impact on employment could be more effectively shared before any implementation. National secretary Steve Todd calls on shipping members to contribute to RMT News The union met some criticism recently in relation to the amount of cover shippers get in the RMT news. Sometimes criticism is not a bad thing, especially when it is constructive and I am mindful of the concerns raised by our members. I can assure you that we will make every effort to have issues and subject matters in the RMT news. I am sure there are other grades who also wish they had more coverage in the magazine and what frustrates me most of all is the fact that some of us make comparisons with the Nautilus publication – in particular the job advertisements. I would respectfully remind members that the Nautilus publication is covering one grade of worker, namely “the officer”. Our publication covers not one industry but several, for example there are numerous grades in the rail industry and I am sure they would all like their issues covered. As regards job adverts, the “bosses” do not want to pay RMT for advertising, as you know, many of them do not want to employ us at all. We do try and encourage them to advertise (those that employ ratings) and we have not charged where we have had limited success. I would like to take this opportunity also to remind members that anytime you want issues covered in the magazine you can send them in and we will make every effort to cover them. Branches also have the opportunity to publish their own newsletter covering local issues and we can assist with that if required. Whatever happens, every effort will be maintained to keep your issues highlighted. SHIPPING NEWS... GET YOUR STORY COVERED