SHIPPING NEWS

Firstly I would like to take the opportunity to sincerely thank all members and branches for nominating and electing me for a third and possibly my final term as your national secretary after 41 years membership of this union. It not only makes me proud, but it pleases me immensely to be returned with the supporting nominations from all our shipping branches and for a first time our offshore energy branch. I am indebted to you all for the trust you have placed in me yet again and I look forward to repaying that trust during this term of office. I assure you that I won’t be resting on my laurels as there is a job to be done and we need to get on with it. We had a successful meeting last month with Swires Wind Farm Vessels regarding the vessels which will operate with long term contracts employing both UK and European seafarers. Both RMT and Nautilus hope to conclude an agreement covering seafarers on these vessels in the coming weeks. All indications show that offshore wind farms are due to increase and it could bring much needed work for our seafarers. Foreland Shipping operates the six strategic Ro/Ro Ferries on behalf of the government, four of which are all employed on MOD charters and the other two on commercial charters. The fact that the recent commercial charters in the Baltic has ended is a cause for concern and the company has indicated that those two vessels are now up for sale and they have been for the best part of the year. With no sign of any current interest in buying them, members are becoming increasingly concerned about their future employment. Although the two ships Beachy Head and Hurst Point are now on charter to DFDS, we are still watching very carefully and in regular dialogue with the company seeking the necessary assurances our members need. We don’t see the need to enter into discussion over redundancy because there are none as yet. If those ships were sold the union will be seeking TUPE transfer, if it applies, or suitable alternative employment to protect those jobs. Regarding the P&O pay review, we tried to get pay talks underway but the company called all of the unions they deal with to meeting to what you might term a state of the nation address from the company's chief executive and the number crunchers. They painted a pretty horrific picture, which may have had some of us thinking no one would get a pay rise this year. They are burdened with massive pension deficit problems, some of which is their own doing. The unions asked for an independent financial overview which was carried out by someone chosen by the unions, Dennis Gregory of Ruskin College. He confirmed that most if not all of what we had been told was in fact true, not good to hear. Then we learned that as result of continued spate of industrial action the company had agreed to pay the French an increase approximately 1.5 per cent. RMT immediately sought a meeting and advised the company that it was not prepared to recommend anything less than our French brothers and sisters had been awarded, despite the very poor state of affairs we had been advised about we couldn't be seen to do anything less. We have now received an offer of 1.5 per cent payable in July backdated to January for this year and all things inflation increase from January next year, with a maximum of four per cent and a minimum of two per cent, and this will now go to referendum of members. The company has indicated that they will need to implement initiatives in each and every vessel to cover these costs Royal Fleet Auxiliary members will be aware that the complex negotiations and discussions regarding the Tailored Schemes of Complement (TSOC’s), Manning Levels, were called off a couple of months ago by the union. This followed the failure by the company to recognise and deal with the problems the working party were flagging up following feedback from members. There was also an issue of reward and recognition as part of future development work, all of which resulted in the suspension of the TSOC’s trials. I am happy to report that following further discussions at which I was accompanied by Ian Boyle, who has done a sterling job here incidentally, when we met senior RFA personnel there was acknowledgment of what the problems were and the company gave firm commitments to resolve these issues. We have agreed to restart the working parties in an effort to get things moving again. This will be such an important part of the future of RFA and we have to be involved and play a part. We need to have a say in what will affect our members and how it is done rather than just having it done to us or for us! As always before any final decision is made the members will need to be consulted and they are the final arbiters. On a brighter note in RFA, the MAARS Tanker project will see the introduction of new tankers into the fleet over the next couple of years, which will mean about 100 new jobs for our members watch this space! RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: may 2013 :: RMTnews 11 SHIPPING NEWS RMT national secretary Steve Todd outlines issues facing shipping members