P&O HARMONISATION

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: june 2011 :: RMTnews 31 AGREEMENT: Isle of Man Steam Packet HR director Stuart Garrett and RMT regional organiser Ken Usher sign the updated pay and benefits review for 2011. C rews on the P&O ferries Pride of York and Pride of Hull are currently involved in a harmonisation project to bring together the two different set of terms and conditions and associated pay scales. Pride of York RMT rep Darren Proctor said that the move was a welcome boost for the members as there are currently huge differences in pay and conditions which has been contributing factor for low morale. “Membership on both vessels are now buzzing in the hope we can gain competitive terms and conditions for all members. “It shows that through unity with each other we can achieve realistic improvements through a working party and the leadership of RMT national secretary Steve Todd and regional organiser Dave Collinson,” he said. T wo RMT members working on board the P&O ship Pride of York, Olly Steer and Tony Wilson, received their 40-year badges recently despite the fact the pair hadn’t seen each other for most of that time. The two members both went to sea school in Gravesend together and went their separate ways in December 1971 only to meet on the P&O vessel the Pride of York after the decommissioning of the Pride of Bilbao last year. Olly Steer has been a steward since leaving sea school and has worked mainly for various companies under the P&O flag during his sea service. Tony Wilson joined his first vessel, Canberra, as a bell boy a week after leaving sea school in 1971. For the past 33 years he has worked for North Sea ferries which later became P&O North Sea Ferries. Tony is now a sous chef. During his spell on North Sea ferries he worked on the Norland which played a part in the Falklands conflict. RMT assistant national secretary Mark Carden with Olly Steer and RMT rep on Pride of York Darren Proctor P&O HARMONISATION UNITY: Darren Proctor, knelling, with RMT members working in the North Sea ISLE OF MAN STEAM PACKET DEAL 80 YEARS AT SEA