SOS2020 SEAFARERS’ CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED IN DOVER

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: may 2017 :: RMTnews 8 R MT’s SOS 2020 campaign was officially launched in Dover last month highlighting the fact that as an island nation and net importer, the country’s economic, social and security interests depend upon seafarers and a resilient UK maritime skills base. The exclusion of seafarers’ from full employment or equality rights, low levels of training and the rise of Flags of Convenience registers, including those in the Red Ensign Group, such as on the Isle of Man and Bermuda, have led to a decline in UK ratings and officers from 58,000 in the 1980s to 23,380 in 2015. Non-UK ratings continue to be recruited on rates of pay below the legal UK minimum. This unfair competition blocks UK seafarers’ access to work, damages the maritime skills base and drives down employment standards, training and pay across the industry. Employers also routinely avoid paying seafarers their full entitlement even to these low wages – last year an estimated £31.5 million of earnings were not paid to seafarers working from UK ports. Since 2011, UK Ratings have fallen by 25 per cent and the total number of UK seafarers decreased by over 13 per cent. The ageing nature of seafarers also means that if training and employment do not increase before then, 2020 will see the retirement of thousands of UK seafarers, exposing this country to negative economic, social and security effects of a maritime skills deficit. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that the union was determined that the future of our maritime industry was not ignored during the general election campaign and ports like Dover had a huge amount at stake economically and industrially if we allow central government to continue to allow the decimation of UK shipping. “As part of our SOS2020 campaign RMT is demanding jobs, training and the end of the race to the bottom on pay and working conditions. Our objective is simple – a guaranteed future for the UK shipping industry based on the development of a skilled and expanded domestic workforce that will secure the economy of areas like Dover well into the future,” he said. RMT national secretary Steve Todd added that for too long our maritime sector had been ravaged by social dumping and the flouting of pay and employment regulations at the expense of UK ratings jobs. That scandal has to end and RMT will be challenging the candidates for political office to sign up to the union’s campaign.” SOS2020 facts: • 95 per cent of all imported and exported goods in the UK are transported by ship • Over 496 million tonnes of maritime freight handled from ships at UK ports • Over 22 million passengers moved on short sea, continental and international cruise ferries • The shipping industry directly contributes over £3 billion to UK GDP • The Royal Fleet Auxiliary is the biggest employer of UK merchant seafarers SOS2020 SEAFARERS’ CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED IN DOVER