STENA VISITS

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: july/aug 2025 :: RMTnews 7 R MT has called on the government to stop P&O Ferries profiteering from public funds following the release of the company’s 2023 accounts today nearly a year later than required by law. The P&O accounts were published nearly ten months later than required by law following the resignation of its auditors in May. The company has already broken the law by firing and replacing seafarer RMT members with foreign agency crew who are paid under £5 an hour with no protection, working a minimum of 12 hours per days, seven days per week for months working in UK waters. RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said that with P&O Ferries was a pariah company that torched its reputation and that of the UK shipping industry, to cut labour costs. “The astronomical 172 per cent pay award for executive pirate Peter Hebblethwaite is a slap in the face to seafarers and communities in Dover, Hull and Larne, direct from Dubai. “P&O Ferries must be explicitly prevented from benefitting from public investment in green port infrastructure in Dover, Tilbury, Larne or Hull. “The measures in the Employment Rights Bill must also be strong enough to break the P&O business model, as the French government has done and return quality, secure jobs to UK workers in the ferries and ports sectors. “We will continue to raise our concerns with government ministers to hold P&O ferries to account and ensure preventative measures are robust to prevent any other rogue employer in the shipping industry doing the same,” he said. R MT national secretary Darren Procter and full- time RMT Stena convenor Michael Hobson held meetings in Birkenhead with seafarer members onboard Stena Edda discussing key issues and the latest pay offer. There were also discussions with RMT port operative members employed by Stena Line in Belfast discussing key issues, safety culture and providing an update on pay proposals. Darren Procter also met with shipboard representative Emma Purcell onboard the Stena Embla operating between Birkenhead and Belfast. There was also a shipboard visit onboard the Stena Superfast 8 with members of the deck department and newly elected shipboard representative James Clark to discuss key issues of RMT members. Darren and Mick were also on the vessel Stena Brittanica which operates between Harwich and Hoek van Holland (see above). RMT held a local meeting with management discuss to industrial issues. “Being visible to members within the workplace is essential to our port worker members and elected officials,” said Darren. GOVERNMENT MUST ACT OVER P&O FERRIES STENA VISITS YORK CITY CRUISES R MT national secretary Darren Procter visited members employed at City Cruises in York following a meeting with management in relation to pay. ”It was good to engage with members on industrial, safety and political issues and to identify how to be better organised in York and within the Inland waterways sector,” he said. STENA: Onboard the vessel Stena Brittanica which operates between Harwich and Hoek van Holland, RMT national secretary Darren Procter and convenor Mick Hobson with shipboard reps Peter Martin and branch secretary Stewart Morrison.