RMT DEMOLISHES CASE FOR DISCRIMINATORY PAY FOR SEAFARERS

RMT helpline 0800 3763706 :: july/august 2010 :: RMTnews 10 The RMT submission on pay race discrimination at sea to the review to the Department for Transport review fatally undermined Chamber of Shipping support for continued discrimination and gained a favourable recommendation. The main arguments put forward by the Chamber of Shipping and examined in the review were as follows: • Increased costs – The Chamber of Shipping claims that employment costs per trip will increase by between 10 per cent and 130 per cent with discrimination completely outlawed (option A), and by between six per cent and 31 per cent if only discrimination against EU nationals was prohibited, (option B). RMT, supported by the TUC, advised the review that such estimates based on current pay would be overstated because pay differentials were narrowing. • Competitiveness – The Chamber told the Carter review that differential pay was standard practice across EU Member States and internationally. The union was able to counteract this by pointing to higher standards in other EU States. • Flagging out – The Chamber said that 172 ships would flag out under option A, or 141 under option B. RMT was again able to refute this argument by pointing to the advantages of the UK flag. More importantly high level advice obtained by RMT revealed that in many instances flagging out may not be effective. • Consequences of flagging out – The employers also said that flagging out would cause the movement of shipping operations abroad, the gradual replacement of 4,000 UK seafarers, a negative impact on the maritime cluster and reduced strategic capability. RMT also challenged these assertions and has underlined how we believe that the end of discriminatory practices can provide stability for existing UK seafarers and in the longer term enhance training and employment prospects. In addition, the RMT submission outlined the wider benefits of improved employment prospects for port towns and communities. The union also underlined the moral arguments and advised the Department for Transport that the shipping industry could no longer be allowed to ignore basic employment and equal rights legislation. RMT also stated that responsible shipping companies would benefit from fairer competition. The Carter review concluded that: “On the basis of the evidence submitted, I recommend outlawing the practice of nationality-based pay differentials for seafarers altogether (option A).” Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that the new Shipping Minister will uphold the recommendations. However, the union has asked the Government to implement the findings of the review as soon as possible. In addition RMT Parliament group convenor John McDonnell MP has tabled the following Early Day Motion 319 (below) calling for the government to implement the findings. Meetings have also been held with the new Shipping Minister with John McDonnell accompanied by Karl Turner MP, son of former NUS official Ken Turner and member of the RMT Parliamentary group. For a copy of the RMT submission please e-mail Steve Yandell in the National Policy Department at s.yandell@rmt.org.uk or call 0207 529 8819. RMT DEMOLISHES CASE FOR DISCRIMINATORY PAY FOR SEAFARERS Union steps up pressure on the new government to end the discrimination on seafarers pay EARLY DAY MOTION 319 That this House welcomes the government's publication of the independent external review of evidence submitted to the consultation on regulations to end discriminatory pay on UK ships; further welcomes the recommendation of the review that the practice of nationality-based pay differentials for seafarers be outlawed altogether on UK ships; believes that no UK industry should be permitted to ignore legislation on non-discrimination and notes that this discrimination has resulted in rates of pay below the national minimum wage on UK ships; and therefore urges the Government to endorse the findings of the independent external review and to bring forward regulations to end this discrimination as soon as possible. John McDonnell MP