DEFENDING CALMAC WORKERS

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: march 2015 :: RMTnews 24 T he Scottish TUC joined unions representing Caledonian MacBrayne workers at the Scottish Parliament last month to call for existing employment and pension rights to be maintained in the next contract for the Clyde and Hebrides network. The delegation also called for an end to any privatisation of these lifeline services and an end to constant re-tendering of Scottish ferry contracts demanded by EU rules. MSPs agreed that the re- tendering these lifeline services was disruptive, unpopular and expensive and that the Scottish government should exempt Scottish ferries from European competition law that requires regular re-tendering of maritime public services. RMT national secretary Steve Todd, regional organiser Gordon Martin and CalMac rep Brian Reynolds took the lead in outlining to MSPs the implications of removing employment and pension rights protections in the next contract for Clyde and Hebrides ferry services (CHFS), currently provided by public sector operator CalMac. If these key protections were not included in the next contract the Scottish government would effectively be inviting private operators to undermine terms and conditions, cut pensions and, crucially, introduce low cost crewing models which could see non-UK seafarers on lower rates of pay replace Scottish seafarers, breaking the link between communities and staff on these lifeline services. The CalMac unions and the STUC are currently in discussions with the Scottish government over the specifications of the next CHFS contract. But officials are being evasive over whether Cal Mac workers will continue to receive the same protections from mass redundancy, low cost crewing, inferior pension provisions and an undermining of general terms and conditions of employment, should the next contract be awarded to a private sector company. The SNP government previously handed the 2012-18 contract for Northern Isles ferry services to Serco. If the unions do not receive basic assurances of these protections for staff on Clyde and Hebrides services, then a serious industrial situation will arise. C aledonian MacBrayne has become the first ferry company to take VisitScotland’s ‘Taste Our Best’ seal of approval to the high seas. Seven of the company’s Mariners restaurants on board the larger ships have been awarded this accolade – particularly special as CalMac prepares to embrace Scotland’s Year of Food and Drink. Two others are in the process of being assessed and, once in service, MV Loch Seaforth will also be appraised by the judges. The ships which have achieved this impressive award are MVs Isle of Lewis, Hebrides, Caledonian Isles, Finlaggan, Hebridean Isles, Isle of Arran and Lord of the Isles. These vessels ply routes throughout the Western Isles, Argyll and Arran, serving variously Lewis, Harris, North Uist, South Uist, Skye, Barra, Coll, Tiree, Colonsay, Islay, Campbeltown and Arran. DEFENDING CALMAC WORKERS CALMAC CULINARY AWARD