RFA ACTI ON

R MT is preparing for industrial action involving hundreds of staff across the Royal Fleet Auxiliary over an attack on pay and working conditions. Any campaign of action will involve all RFA members including those on the ship RFA Mount’s Bay which is currently being deployed to the Aegean Sea as part of the government’s anti-people smuggling operations. The issues at the heart of the dispute are the imposition of a one per cent pay increase despite RMT members rejecting the offer, imposing changes to staffing without agreement and creating banding levels which sees captain’s receiving bigger increases by taking cash out of the pockets of RMT members. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that RFA staff have been deployed to sensitive and dangerous operations down the years, including todays developments on the migrant crisis in the Aegean, the recent Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone and war zones like the Falklands and the Gulf. “These are brave and hard-working men and women who deserve respect and recognition for the critical role that they fulfil. RMT stands behind our RFA members 100 per cent,” he said. RMT national secretary Steve Todd said that the attack on the pay and conditions of RFA staff was wholly unacceptable and the attempt to impose fundamental changes left RMT with no option but to prepare for action. “The union is sick and tired of RFA staff being written out of the script by government ministers which is exactly what happened with the announcement on the operations off the Turkish coast. “It is a disgraceful way to treat this courageous and committed group of workers,” he said. RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: march 2016 :: RMTnews 4 A new independent report has reinforced the case FOR keeping Caledonian MacBrayne lifeline ferries in the public sector and HAS warned of the dangers of privatisation. The RMT- commissioned report by Jeanette Findlay Economics Lecturer at Glasgow University and respected analyst of the economics of Scottish ferries, reaches a number of conclusions that the union says make an overwhelming case for keeping the operation of lifeline ferry services in the public sector. It has found that Cal Mac has operated in an efficient, innovative and strategic way on the current CHFS contract and has shared with the Scottish government all the benefits of cost savings. CalMac has the potential to be a leader for the economy as a whole in delivering fair work, good quality work, training and innovation, as well as a good quality service to passengers and the public. Indeed, to a considerable degree, it was found that CalMac already is leading in these areas of the Scottish economy. In contrast, there was much less evidence that Serco Caledonian could or would wish to play that role and its motivation and focus in winning the CHFS tender is naturally based on its status as a profit-seeking entity. The report found that Serco Group, owner of Serco Northlink, has an extremely troubled history in relation to its public sector contracts; it has no significant experience in the maritime industry and its financial health and business model raise concerns. The estimated costs of tendering remain very high in the context of very limited scope for cost savings in the operation of the tender. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that it was a sober analysis of the economic case for keeping Cal Mac public in order to preserve and increase the considerable economic benefits of publicly funded services, good employment and training standards already in place. “Scottish taxpayers, ferry workers and passengers cannot afford these lifeline services being placed by the Scottish Government into the hands of Serco who would seek to drain profit from lifeline Scottish ferry services,” he said. RMT national secretary Steve Todd added that the report was a ringing endorsement of the vital role that CalMac’s near 1,500 employees play in delivering an efficient, affordable and popular lifeline ferry service to Clyde and Hebridean communities. “The report justifies the Scottish government’s decision to invest hundreds of millions to 2022 in new vessels, IT, port and harbour infrastructure, maritime skills and passenger fares on this complex, 26-route network. “Handing this jewel in the crown to Serco would be a scandalous betrayal of workers, passengers and the Scottish taxpayer,” he said. RFA ACTION REPORT BACKS KEEPING CAL MAC PUBLIC