REMEMBERING THE FALLEN

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: november/december 2011 :: RMTnews 12 R MT has slammed news that two Hull-based P&O ferries are being re-registered in the Bahamas in a bid to save money. P&O Ferries is changing the status of the Pride of Hull and the Pride of York to avoid increased wage costs, if changes are made to employment laws. The two ships are currently registered under the British flag. Once they have been re- registered, the two liners will sail under the flag of the Bahamas. RMT said that sailing under a flag of convenience was a cynical move by shipping companies could employ crew under different working practices, at cheaper rates, undermining pay and conditions. One P&O boss was quoted as saying: "It's to protect us, really, against possible changes in employment legislation which would take our wage bill up.” RMT general secretary Bob Crow said that it was a blatant and transparent attempt by P&O to avoid its obligations under the new agency worker regulations, and the company had publicly admitted it. “Rather than offering temporary workers equality they are using a flag of convenience to dodge their obligations and that is a scandal. The Pride of Hull and the Pride of York have been flying the flag for those cities and to change that flag and the port of registry is a sad day for shipping in Britain,” he said. RMT national secretary Steve Todd said that it was particularly galling that P&O, like other operators who received the benefits of the Tonnage tax, are not required to have a British flag. “It is a nonsense that the tonnage tax is flag blind and as a result there are now some 862 vessels receiving or registered to receive the benefits of the UK Tax regime for employers and only a minority, 410, are UK-flagged with the rest exempt from key UK employment regulations. That is a scandalous loophole,” he said. B ob Crow and RMT national secretary Steve Todd were joined by ITF president Paddy Crumlin, Nautilus national secretary Mark Dickenson and ITF co ordinator Dean Summers laid wreaths on behalf of the union at the annual remembrance service at the Merchant Seamen’s War Memorial garden at Tower Hill, London. Bob laid the wreath on behalf of seafarers who lost their lives in both the First and Second World Wars and more recent conflicts. Over 35,000 merchant seamen were lost in World War Two alone, most the victims of U-boat attacks, with over 5,000 taken prisoner. British merchant ships were on the front line in the struggle against fascism. Prior to the ceremony RMT took part in a successful campaign to block proposals to hold Christmas parties for bankers in the memorial gardens. Bob Crow welcomed the climb-down but said that the proposals should never have been made to hand Trinity Square Gardens over to the bankers and speculators for their Christmas drinks parties. “RMT will continue to monitor future proposals for the use of Trinity Square Gardens and we will use the union’s resources to protect this important memorial to tens of thousands of merchant seafarers,” he said. REMEMBERING THE FALLEN P&O RE-REGISTERS TWO FERRIES IN BAHAMAS TO DODGE EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS