RMT OPENS DESK AT ABERDEEN AIRPORT FOR OFFSHORE WORKERS

R MT has opened a help desk providing information and support directly to offshore energy workers at Aberdeen airport after many companies unveiled ‘cost cutting’ measures, ranging from project delays or cancellations, restructuring and cuts to maintenance budgets, jobs, pay, leave and other terms and conditions of employment. The geographical and logistical problems associated with the offshore industry make it extremely difficult to visit workers at their place of employment. So the union operated an information and support desk for two weeks last month in the main terminal building at Aberdeen airport, which has the biggest movement of offshore workers in the UK. RMT general secretary Bob Crow said that both OILC and RMT had a long tradition of providing quality services to workers. “As a combined organisation we are upping our game in an effort to assist workers through these difficult times. “We are taking our support and organisational services directly to the workers, to the nearest and most accessible point of contact to their place of work,” he said. It will be the first in a series of exercises aimed at providing services directly to offshore workers. Following Aberdeen, the aim is to take the support desk to Humberside, then on to Norwich, Great Yarmouth and Blackpool over the course of the next few months. RMT regional organiser Jake Molloy said that the union was being inundated with concerns about wage cuts and redundancies, which could impact on health and safety performance. “While we’ll be using this exercise to provide information and support to workers, we will also be taking time to gather information about the effects of the cost cutting,” he said. RMT helpline 0800 3763706 :: september 2009 :: RMTnews 11 T he Seamen’s Hospital Society has commissioned new research to investigate the level and nature of need for health care among working age seafarers based in the UK and related healthcare provision. The Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM), a research organisation well known for investigating all aspects of workers health, is carrying out the research will be completed early next year. The new research has been launched following a report by the Maritime Charities Funding Group which looked into all aspects of support for seafarers including health, housing and poverty. One of the key health findings concerned the importance of timely access to medical diagnosis and treatment for seafarers of working age. Some 17 per cent of merchant seafarers and 23 per cent of fishermen surveyed reported concerns about accessing healthcare, whilst 32 per cent and 47 per cent needed medical care and 23 per cent and 29 per cent had needed rehabilitation to return to work at sea. As a result of its findings the report specifically recommended that further work be undertaken into access to healthcare. YOUR VIEW As part of the new study, the IOM is seeking out seafarers’ views on their health needs and access to healthcare. Anyone who would like to participate can do so by filling out a short questionnaire which can be found at www.iom-world.org/ research/seafarershealth.php. The questionnaire will also be distributed directly to maritime RMT members who have access to e-mail and additional copies will be available on request. It should take no longer than 10 minutes to complete and two completed questionnaires will be drawn at random to receive a gift. The more people who take part in the study, the more reliable the results will be. Results from the study will be completely anonymous and no individual will be identified at any stage. Seamen’s Hospital Society general secretary Peter Coulson said that he hoped the research would provide valuable information to guide policy and practice and would be particularly pleased to have the participation of as many seafarers as possible in contributing their experiences and views to the findings. RMT OPENS DESK AT ABERDEEN AIRPORT FOR OFFSHORE WORKERS OFFSHORE: RMT regional organiser Jake Molloy and Bob Crow at Aberdeen airport NEW PROJECT INVESTIGATES HEALTHCARE NEEDS OF SEAFARERS