RFA PAY WIN

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: july/august 2026 :: RMTnews 8 RMT marked a significant victory for seafarers’ pensions after P&O Ferries paid the £94 million it owed to the Merchant Navy Ratings Pension Fund (MNRPF). The payment follows negotiations between the MNRPF Trustees and DP World and means the £94 million debt has now been paid in full, with the funds invested alongside other scheme assets. It also removes the charges held over P&O Ferries’ vessels, which had been put in place as security against any default on the company’s obligations. However, the union made clear that the settlement did not erase the scandal of the unlawful dismissal of 786 seafarers by P&O Ferries in March 2022. RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said that it did not draw a line under one of the biggest industrial scandals in modern British history. “The seafarers who were ruthlessly sacked and replaced with low-paid agency labour are still owed justice, and our campaign on their behalf will continue until that is achieved. “The low-cost crewing model imposed by P&O Ferries has come under increasing political and legal pressure. “New legal protections requiring improved pay, better conditions and significant changes to roster patterns will make it far harder to sustain the exploitative model introduced after the sackings,” he said. RMT members working in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) have voted to accept a negotiated pay offer that delivers significant improvements to pay and conditions. The settlement represents a combined increase of 8.26 per cent, with the equivalent of 13 days extra leave a year and a series of consolidated payments. RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said that it was a tremendous win that reflected the determination of RFA members who have taken days of strike action around the world to secure the much improved offer. “RFA crews carry out vital and often dangerous work in support of the Royal Navy around the world. “They deserve fair pay, decent conditions and respect, and this agreement represents a significant step forward for our members,” he said. RFA PAY WIN Royal Fleet Auxiliary seafarers win pay deal following strike action P&O PENSION DEBT VICTORY