VOLUNTARY SEAFARER AGREEMENT NOT GOOD ENOUGH

Union calls for mandatory rules between France and UK for seafarer employment and welfare standards

A voluntary bilateral agreement was signed in Paris between France and the United Kingdom in July over seafarer employment and welfare standards.

RMT urged the two governments to get serious about creating and enforcing minimum rules to rescue the failing ferries sector. The UK government also launched a voluntary seafarers’ charter following P&O’s illegal sacking of hundreds of workers and replacing them with cheap agency labour.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said that the agreement recognised the threat that unlawful operators like P&O Ferries continue to represent to seafarers across the UK and

Europe.

“We need mandatory employment standards to grow jobs for our Ratings and Officers on short sea shipping routes from all UK ports, including to France. RMT looks forward to working on delivering fair pay and a new deal for this country’s seafarers, consistent with the trade union rights of French seafarers on international routes, when the voluntary seafarers charter is reviewed after the next General Election.

“Now it’s over to P&O Ferries, Irish Ferries, crewing agents and other shipowners to confirm whether they will or will not comply with the seafarers’ charter, including the two week on two week off roster pattern,” he said.

European Transport Federation general secretary Livia Spera reiterated the need for mandatory standards and sectoral collective bargaining rights.

“The solution proposed by France and the UK is based on a voluntary agreement by companies to follow the ‘rules.’ This is not enough, as it does not force companies to be compliant and it does not establish enforcement mechanisms.”

“This agreement will not unpick the effect of P&O Ferries’ attack on its own workforce in 2022, when the company unlawfully dismissed 800 seafarers and violated their rights.

“It remains to be seen if P&O Ferries, Irish Ferries, crewing agents and other shipowners would decide to comply with what was agreed by the two countries.

“From our perspective, the focus needs to be on eradicating substandard working conditions and reestablishing decent standards and rights through legislation and collective bargaining,” she said.

Bilateral agreements with other nations on short sea shipping routes from the UK were part of the government’s Nine Point Plan in response to P&O Ferries and DP World’s unlawful sackings sixteen months ago.