SAVE UK RATINGS

RMT welcomed a nearly five per cent increase in the number of UK ratings at sea in 2015 but urged the government and industry to do more to train and employ the next generation of UK ratings in every department of a ship. According to the Department for Transport’s Annual Seafarer Statistics, the number of UK ratings in the shipping industry increased by 410 (4.8 per cent) in 2015, the first increase since 2011. However, this modest increase was almost entirely confined to the catering and on- board services departments, where insecure employment contracts such as zero hours are common. The number of engine ratings fell by 13 per cent and deck rating numbers remained flat. If this trend continues, the UK will have no deck and engine ratings by the end of the decade and the UK will lose the capacity to operate all classes of ship, damaging the skills base, as well as harming the UK’s economic and national security. National secretary Steve Todd said that the union welcomed any increase in jobs for UK seafarers but this is no time for the industry and government to start patting themselves on the back. “Make no mistake the headline figure may be a five per cent increase but overall UK ratings again lost out in 2015 and the position for ratings remains desperate. “Government needs to get its finger out and compel industry to use the Tonnage Tax scheme and new maritime apprenticeships to sign up the next generation of UK ratings in RMT demands government and industry do more for UK ratings as the number of engine ratings and deck ratings continues to decline RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: february 2016 :: RMTnews 10 SAVE UK RATINGS