JOBS BATTLE AT DFDS

JOBS BATTLE AT DFDS RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: march 2012 :: RMTnews 10 S trict new pollution controls will cost thousands of British shipping jobs, force ferry fares to rise by a fifth and may even drive operators out of business, MPs have been told. The UK maritime industry has warned that ports including Newcastle, Hull, Harwich, Teesport and Rosyth would be particularly badly hit by tougher limits on sulphur emissions in the North Sea. Ferry companies said their fuel bills would rise by tens of millions of pounds a year, resulting in passenger fare increases of 20 per cent, fewer services and job losses. They also claimed that more traffic would be transferred to the roads and higher freight costs would mean higher import costs. The so-called Annex VI controls, to come into force from 2015, are backed by the British government as part of an international convention revised in 2008. The European Commission wants to bring the regulations into European Union law, but with additional requirements - resisted by the UK - for passenger ferries to observe the limits even when they are outside special emission control areas. The Commons Transport Select Committee supported the government, saying the costs of tighter controls would be outweighed by the health benefits, estimated at £1.1 billion a year from 2020. But it urged the government to block the EC’s ‘gold-plating’ of the regulations with the additional restrictions on passenger ferries. ``These regulations will impose significant costs on operators, and we therefore agree that the Commission should impose no additional burdens on operators at this time over and above the requirements of Annex VI,” it said. Maritime UK, which represents shipping and ports, said the regulations would cost jobs. Vice chairman Lars Olsson told the committee the regulations would place an additional financial burden of R MT is in talks with DFDS Seaways over the implementation of a scheme called Project Light Crossing, designed to cut costs and jobs in Dover. The plan has sparked anger among workers, while industry experts claim it will mean dangerously low numbers of deck hands on DFDS ships, which operate in the world's busiest seaway. A total of 18 jobs in DFDS's deck department have been earmarked for the axe and RMT is fighting to keep those employees. RMT members are taking part in a vote over possible strike action in protest. A letter has been sent to all deck ratings by shipping EC member Malcolm Dunning "DFDS are considering a counter- proposal from RMT attempting to retain six jobs. However, DFDS would want you to agree to a pay freeze for 2012 to finance the retention of these jobs. "This is your call now and so I have attached a referendum ballot paper asking a simple question. "This exercise needs to establish your, the members', position so that RMT can reflect your views and if necessary prepare an official ballot for industrial action,” the letter says. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has urged the operator to provide adequate shift patterns and break rotas for those staff left on board but a source involved with the Light Crossing project said: "At a time when the 25th anniversary of the Herald of Free Enterprise is in everyone's thoughts, this decision to reduce deck departments is worrying. "Some people in the port, who have been in the industry for more than 40 years, have said if this goes through, levels of personnel in the deck department will be the lowest they have ever seen," the source said. EU THREATENS THOUSANDS OF SHIPPING JOBS