DEFENDING JOBS AT P&O FERRIES

RMT helpline 0800 3763706 :: april 2010 :: RMTnews 15 S ince P&O Ferries announced its intention to withdraw the Pride of Bilbao vessel from the Portsmouth to Bilbao route from September, RMT’s priority has been to ensure that there are no compulsory redundancies and that no member is forced into a position which is unacceptable to them. Following a meeting between RMT organisers and on-board representatives and P&O, the company looked at redeployment opportunities available at other locations within the fleet and this exercise has now concluded. The company stated that the overall number of displaced staff largely matched the currently, or soon to be vacant positions. Therefore, with a small number of exceptions to be dealt with separately, all seafarers employed by P&O Portsmouth will be retained in suitable positions throughout the fleet. It has not yet been finalised whether members on the Pride of Bilbao will move individually or as a whole crew to another sector. RMT has advised the company that further discussion will be required regarding any compensation for extra travelling time incurred by members. The union is also opposed to any members relocating to another sector on their original terms and conditions where the areas existing terms and conditions are more advantageous. R MT has secured the continued employment of ratings after the union learnt that the Norman Spirit vessel was to be withdrawn from the Dover to Boulogne route and replaced by another vessel called the Norman Bridge. The Norman Spirit is crewed by Clyde Marine Ltd but the Norman Bridge would be crewed by Meridian Marine so the union pointed out that RMT members are not redundant and should be TUPE transferred to the new vessel. Clyde Marine, LD Lines and Nautilus International agreed with the union’s opinion and legal advice. Meridian Marine claimed it was not a TUPE situation but that members would be welcome to apply for jobs on the Norman Bridge as new employees. As required by law, we then received a redundancy notice from Clyde Marine, however, this did include a clause stating the company believed members should be transferred. At this stage, we advised the Companies that we find the situation totally unacceptable and that our members are understandably very angry and confused and considering action. LD Lines as the operator advised that it would be holding meetings with both Clyde Marine and Meridian Marine to try and find a satisfactory solution for all concerned. Meridian Marine still did not accept that a TUPE transfer should apply but a proposal was tabled offering vacancies to those members currently employed on the Norman Spirit and Clyde Marine would suspend these members employment until the Norman Leader replaced the Norman Spirit in November or December this year. At this time, members would be re-employed by Clyde Marine on the Norman Leader with their original continuity of service protected. The companies agreed to give the union a written assurance that this would happen, including a commitment to pay any liability in the event of circumstances beyond their control. RMT national secretary Steve Todd said that as a result there would be no redundancies and no need to argue whether TUPE applied or not. “The time it would have taken to pursue a claim for unfair dismissal, non-payment of redundancy or TUPE would most likely be longer than the proposed temporary transfer as proposed,” he said. S tena Line recently announced plans to replace the HSS Stena Explorer with another fast craft, the Stena Express, on the Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire route during off peak periods in 2010. The union received an assurance from the company that there would be no job losses and that everyone should be accommodated. There would be a reduction in the number of OBS (Catering) positions on both vessels due to the reduction in the number of passengers but redeployment opportunities were available on the Stena Adventurer and Stena Nordica. RMT national secretary Steve Todd met RMT reps, Gary Mason and Karlson Lingwood to discuss concerns including the use of low-paid foreign labour, such as those staff employed by Northern Marine on the Fishguard route. RMT advised the company that introducing social dumping on more of their routes would be a departure from normal practice. “A constructive and successful meeting was held with the company where they gave an assurance they would not use non-UK labour in operational roles on the Stena Express or HSS. “A small number of foreign ratings will be used when the vessel is in port at night but these positions will be reviewed regularly with a view to phasing out the practice,” he said. As a result of this reorganisation, RMT members will be asked to work up to 13 hours a day for 10 weeks of the year while the vessels are double-tripping. When divided by the two crews, this works out as each member working 35 extra hours over five weeks. In exchange for the above flexibility, for the remainder of the year when there is only single trips, RMT members will work a 101/2 hour day. All individuals who would have been displaced as a result have now or will be accommodated. A small number of staff who couldn’t be accommodated due to personal reasons will be offered enhanced voluntary redundancy. SECURING SEAFARING JOBS AT DOVER DEFENDING JOBS AT STENA LINE DEFENDING JOBS AT P&O FERRIES