Motion no: 20
Conference continues to oppose the ongoing practice of nationality based pay discrimination in the commercial shipping industry which undercuts and excludes seafarers on both sides of the Irish Sea.
Conference notes with concern that operators such as Seatruck, Irish Ferries and P&O continue to employ seafarers from within and outside the EEA to work on Irish Sea routes for rates of pay below national minimum wages, wrecking the maritime skills base and undercutting rival operators who do not flout minimum wage rates or trade union rights.
Congress calls for public investment in new passenger and freight ferries in the Irish Sea and enforcement of employment rights and recognition for domestic maritime unions representing local seafarers, Ratings and Officers on existing and new vessels on Irish Sea routes.
Conference supports enforcement of domestic legislation and collective bargaining agreements to permanently reverse ongoing abuses in the freight and passenger ferry sectors of the Irish Sea, and repeats its call for government action to end this exploitative practice and to enforce domestic employment standards on international routes, including on vessels registered under a Flag of Convenience.
Conference notes that the majority of Irish and UK seafarers at work today will retire over the next five years and that the shipping industry is intentionally avoiding training and recruitment practices that would back-fill these vacancies with local seafarers. This is a direct threat to long term social, economic and strategic interests and must be tackled by Governments, employers, training providers and trade unions.
Finally, Conference continues to support the RMT’s SOS2020 campaign to equalise seafarers’ employment, equality and immigration rights with those of land based workers and for cabotage protections to secure jobs for domestic seafarers on domestic routes
