A MARITIME MANIFESTO

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: february 2015 :: RMTnews 10 A MARITIME MANIFESTO Union launches manifesto for UK seafarers training and employment The number of UK seafarers working at sea is in potentially terminal decline. In 1982 there were over 30,000 merchant navy ratings in the industry, today there are below 23,000 UK officers and ratings active at sea. Demographics and recruitment rates mean that the UK will suffer from a maritime skills shortage by the beginning of the next decade if this decline is not addressed by government, with serious consequences for national security, seafarer communities and the national economy. RMT represent around 5,000 UK ratings at work in the industry and propose the following policies for adoption by the next government in order to repair the maritime skills base through the training and employment of the next generation of seafarers: 1. Equal rights to employment, equality and immigration law for UK seafarers 2. Enforcement of protections for UK flagged and crewed vessels engaged in island cabotage 3. Promotion of Government funding for ratings training and apprenticeships 4. Legislate to keep the Royal Fleet Auxiliary in the public sector 5. Review the role and responsibilities of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency EQUAL RIGHTS TO EMPLOYMENT, EQUALITY AND IMMIGRATION LAW FOR UK SEAFARERS As the table opposite suggests, shipping companies operating in the short sea sector from the UK exploit the lack of legal protection for UK based seafarers to employ low cost crews from around Europe and the world, to the detriment of the domestic maritime skills base. If left unchecked, these practices, as well as having national security implications will leave the UK without a domestic workforce capable of operating or servicing a diverse range of shipping, with unwanted social and economic consequences, especially in port and isolated communities. Three straightforward legislative reforms would revive seafarer numbers and repair the national maritime skills base, averting a damaging skills shortage in the maritime sector: • Implement the Carter Report’s recommendation for outlawing all forms of pay discrimination on UK ships • Enforce the National Minimum Wage Act 1998 for seafarers • Jobs on vessels working from UK ports to be included in the Work Permit skills test Small numbers of ratings are being trained every year, mainly in the public sector by Caledonian MacBrayne and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. A major increase in training and employment of UK ratings, across the industry could be achieved with the following policies: • Make ratings training a mandatory part of the Tonnage Tax scheme • Promote SMarT funding for ratings training and rating to officer conversion • Promote ratings apprenticeships in deck, engine, catering and electro- technical through Government, employers and maritime colleges It is for national security reasons to retain the Royal Fleet Auxilary in the public sector and to dramatically increase the number of new officers and ratings coming into the Merchant Navy. The following policies would secure the future of the RFA as part of a thriving maritime sector: • Legislate to prevent the privatisation of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary • Establish a Maritime Industry Monitoring Group in the MoD to monitor the impact current industry employment and other trends would impact on operational capability • Retain the option of payroll deductions for trade unions in the RFA HAND OVER: Retiring shipping EC member Malcolm Dunning (behind left) hands over to new EC shipping member Lee Davidson standing next to him. Steve Todd and Mick Cash in front. A Maritime Manifesto www.rmt.org.uk