Motion no: 26
Congress welcomes growth in ferry passenger numbers and freight volumes into ports in Northern Ireland, including the 55% increase in passengers carried between Birkenhead and Belfast since 2019.
Congress applauds the progress the RMT has made with measures to increase recruitment and retention on all Stena Line’s ferry services in the Irish Sea. This includes recent agreements to increase seafarer jobs and apprenticeships.
Congress notes with concern that P&O Ferries continues to undercut pay, investment and jobs at ferry operators in the Irish Sea that recognise the RMT for collective bargaining purposes. P&O operate two ferries registered in the Bahamas on the Cairnryan-Larne route with agency seafarers contracted to work at sea for two months on the National Minimum Wage. Passenger numbers on these services have fallen 14% since 2019 and by 4% in the last year.
Congress notes with concern that the UK Labour Government’s Mandatory Seafarers Charter which comes into force in December will not cover seafarers working on commercial ferry routes between the UK and Northern Ireland.
Congress therefore commits to campaign with the RMT and lobby politicians in Northern Ireland to support the RMT campaign for the Charter to apply to seafarers working on commercial ferry routes between the UK and Northern Ireland and for improved measures on pay, safe roster patterns, holiday pay sick pay and pension rights for seafarers which reflect collective bargaining arrangements.
