STENA LINE PAY WIN

RMT has negotiated a significant pay uplift for seafarers and dockers working for Stena Line operating in Harwich, Belfast, Cairnryan, Holyhead, Birkenhead and Fishguard and onboard Stena Britannica. The union has argued that that recruitment and retention of workers was being impacted due to starter rates of pay being significantly inferior to the other onboard rates of pay. As a result, it was unfair for colleagues carrying out the same duties were paid varying rates of pay. So, to address this problem, the union’s negotiating team suggested a new incremental scheme that would allow new starters to achieve parity within their grade over shorter a period of time. RMT national secretary Darren Procter said that the union had told the company that it needed to review and improve its crewing model in order to retain skilled seafarers in the industry. “It is in everyone’s interest to recognise that the industry needs to retain highly trained personnel by making it an appealing career choice,” he said. As a result, the highest uplift of 35.65 per cent was awarded to newly qualified Able Seamen (AB) and grade two Stewards were awarded between 18.38 per cent and 25. 82 per cent. All those ratings on the historic rate of pay will receive a 5.5 per cent increase from January 2024. In addition to the base uplift, specific grades on current Stena rate will see a further increase from January of up to nine per cent. • Able Seamen holding a II/5 ticket will receive a pay award of nine per cent as an Able Seafarer Deck • Current Motormen holding a III/5 ticket will receive a pay award of nine per cent as an Able Seafarer Engine. • Current Motorman holding a III/4 ticket will receive a pay award of 5.5 per cent as an Engineering Watch Rating. • Able Seamen holding a II/4 ticket salary will be aligned with the Engineering Watch Ratingposition. • Hotel Repairman, Assistant Bosun and Bosun ranks will receive a pay award of 7.5 per cent • Able Seamen holding a II/4 EDH ticket will be aligned with the salary of the Engineering Watch Rating position. In addition, it has been agreed to move towards gender neutral rank terminology. As such a new rank term for ‘Hotel Repairman’ is expected to be discussed and agreed between the company and the union. Stena has also agreed to increase the voluntary recall rate permanently to 1.25x the base rate of pay. The training rate of recall will remain at 1.15x and detention onboard will be 1.5x rates of recall as per the current CBA. It has also been recognised that Stena Britannica has a structure and management outside of the alignment of the Irish Sea vessels. Following positive meeting between the company and RMT regional organiser Kathy Mazur an agreement has been reached to upgrade one G1 post per crew in the Galley to a G1 co- ordinator (Sous Chef) in line with the structure on the Irish Sea Vessels. RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: january/february 2024 :: RMTnews 10 DEAL: RMT national secretary Darren Procter with Stena reps in Belfast DEAL: Superfast VIII ferry at Belfast Docks STENA LINE PAY WIN RMT wins pay deal worth up to nearly 40 per cent for incoming crew at the shipping company