Press Release from RMT Union 16 August 2012
SHIPPING UNION RMT today welcomed support from the International Transport Federation for demonstrations this week against the scandal of social dumping in the British shipping industry.
Earlier this week RMT announced today that it is organizing two protests at south coast ports to raise awareness of the impact on shipping jobs of social dumping and the exploitation of oversees workers by the shipping companies.
Friday 17th August
12 noon – Dock Gate 4
Platform Road, Southampton
Raising awareness of the impact of social dumping in the cruise industry
Saturday 18th August
0745 hrs
Portsmouth Continental Shipping Port
PO2 8SP
Specific protest targeting Condor Ferries
ITF Seafarers Section Secretary Jon Whitlow will be at the protest on Saturday to lend ITF support to this important campaign against social dumping
RMT has repeatedly warned that the coalition government’s so-called ‘light touch’ regulations in the Equality Act leave seafarers vulnerable to exploitation on grounds of nationality and increases the scandalous practice of social dumping with Government connivance.
Despite new legislation, trumpeted by the European Union, it has proved to be totally ineffective and massive scope remains for the shipping industry in the UK to continue paying lower wages to seafarers from non-EU countries, and to continue recruiting crew members on that basis.
The specific case of Condor Ferries confirms that shipping companies are not deterred by the new regulations in their fondness for pay discrimination. By employing Ukrainian seafarers on £2.35 per hour (£28.12 per day for a 12 hour shift) to work 3 months on and 1 month off unpaid on routes between Portsmouth, Weymouth or Poole and the Channel Islands, Condor Ferries provide the latest example of seafarers being recruited on grounds of their nationality so they can be paid well below minimum wage and how the company can maximise its profits at the expense of Ukrainian and UK seafarers.
RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:
“The super-exploitation of foreign nationals in the British shipping industry is a massive scandal that the political elite want to keep quiet. That’s no surprise as it’s their wealthy mates running the shipping companies who benefit from this scam that dodges normal employment regulations while the European Union turns a blind eye.
“Social dumping is a mechanism seized on by some of the most rotten employers in the book to dry and batter down wages and conditions. RMT members and their supporters have the full support of the union for this weeks’ protests in Southampton and Portsmouth.”
Stephen Cotton, ITF maritime co-ordinator, said:
“The behaviour of Condor Ferries is utterly scandalous. The company is recruiting Ukrainian seafarers specifically so that it can exploit them by paying way below the National Minimum Wage. This is cynical behaviour which goes entirely against the spirit of new legislation introduced last September. The ITF entirely supports the RMT’s protests in Southampton and Portsmouth and hopes Condor Ferries will be publicly shamed into ending this pay discrimination.”
RMT National Secretary Steve Todd said:
“The fight to stop the scandal of social dumping remains a national priority for RMT and we will continue to step up the campaign to turn the spotlight on the shameful practices that this ConDem government continues to legitamise in the British shipping industry.”
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