Over 500 jobs threatened at Irish Ferries

500 jobs threatened at Irish Ferris

Over 500 jobs are under threat at Irish Ferries following the company's decision to offer workers an impossible choice between taking voluntary redundancy or lower pay, forcing SIPTU to issue immediate notice of strike action.

SIPTU Branch Secretary Paul Smyth, describing the company's decision as "...a lesson in corporate greed...", issued the notice following the company's rejection of a set of proposals drafted by independent financial consultants aimed at resolving the longstanding dispute over outsourcing.

"Despite the fact that the report proposed cuts in wages and reduced annual leave," Smyth admitted, "we believe it formed a basis for moving forward and we were amazed that management chose to reject it out of hand within 24 hours of it being issued."

"Having replaced Irish and other European workers with low-cost agency crews on the MV Normandy, Irish Ferries now want to do eradicate Irish seafarers on the Irish sea, under the guise of a so-called 'voluntary redundancy' package. The package is anything but voluntary — with a 'take it or leave it' sting in the tail. "This is clearly an exercise in greed. Irish Ferries have not lost market share. In fact they made €26 million last year. Less than 12 months ago, Irish Ferries, Chief Executive, Eamon Rothwell said that the savings achieved under an earlier agreement were more than enough to bring them into line with their competitors."

Delay implementation

Last week An Phoblacht reported that a government commissioned report on state aid for the sector might point a way forward out of the impasse. The report is believed to point towards a PAYE refund scheme for employers or through State provision of financial support for training. Minister for the Marine Pat Gallagher has called on Irish Ferries to delay implementation of its proposals until the report is published.

On Tuesday morning representatives of SIPTU and the Seamen's Union of Ireland, who represent about 60% of the Irish Ferries workers, met with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions who, following the meeting, have agreed to intervene. The Seamen's Union has admitted however that they expect most employees to accept the redundancy.

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade and Employment Arthur Morgan TD said the offer of redundancies to 543 workers "represents another disgraceful attempt by the company to deviate from accepted standards in terms of pay and conditions". He challenged the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mícheál Martin to make clear to the company that "no exploitation of workers will be tolerated".