CALMAC ACTION WINS ASSURANCES

After two days of solid strike action RMT members working on ferry sailings to over 20 islands on the west coast of Scotland have won assurances protecting their current terms and conditions and their pension scheme. RMT had suspended further strike action on Caledonian MacBrayne Ferries and on Argyll Ferries to allow negotiations to continue with all parties on key issues at heart of the dispute. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that thanks to the hard work of negotiators the union had reached a clear agreement on the key issues involved in the dispute. "I want to pay tribute to the solidarity and determination of our members which has enabled us to secure this agreement and I also want to thank the local communities who have supported us in this fight. "Although the dispute is over the fight to retain the lifeline ferry services in the public sector continues,” he said. A motion tabled by Independent MSP John Finnie in the Scottish Parliament on the threat to jobs and services at CalMac has attracted cross party support including from Labour and the SNP, the party pressing ahead with the privatisation process. The motion noted that the private sector company, Serco, was bidding to take over CalMac services, and believed that the interests of islanders and the Scottish economy would be best served by these lifeline ferry services remaining in the public sector. RMT national secretary Steve Todd said that the CalMac workers were drawing on broad political and public support. “The assurances on jobs, staffing, safety and the future of the ferry services will allow us to move forwards but the campaign to keep lifeline ferry services in the public sector goes on,” he said. A new independent poll carried out by Survation has found that almost two thirds of Scottish voters think Caledonian MacBrayne ferry services should remain the public sector while only one in ten support privatising the service. The poll also found that six out of ten Scots supported the right of Calamac Workers to take industrial action to defend staffing levels, jobs and pensions from the threat of privatisation, while only one in five oppose Calmac workers. SURVEY RESULTS Two operators, Serco Caledonian Ferries Ltd, a privately owned company, and CalMac Ferries Ltd, a publicly owned company, have been invited by the Scottish government to tender for the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS) contract which covers lifeline ferry services between the mainland of Scotland and 22 of the major islands on Scotland's West Coast. Workers employed by CalMac Ferries Ltd, which currently runs the lifeline ferry services between the mainland of Scotland and 22 of the major islands on Scotland's West Coast are taking industrial action over concerns that jobs, staffing level, pensions and conditions could be threatened by the possible privatisation of these services. Union wins cross party support for campaign against threat to wages and jobs arising from EU-enforced privatisation RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: july/august 2015 :: RMTnews 24 CALMAC ACTION WINS ASSURANCES WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS IS CLOSEST TO YOUR VIEW? All CON LAB SNP The Scottish government should decide that these ferry services remain publicly operated 64% 49% 63% 72% The Scottish government should decide that these ferry services should be privately operated 11% 20% 11% 11% Don't know 25% 31% 26% 17% WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS IS CLOSEST TO YOUR VIEW? All CON LAB SNP I support the right of CalMac workers to take industrial action 58% 33% 67% 66% I oppose the right of CalMac workers to take industrial action 20% 49% 13% 15% Don't know 22% 18% 20% 19%