The RMT Union has confirmed that it’s workers at CalMac will take industrial this week as a result over pay, conditions, pensions and potential job losses.
From Wednesday, there will be a ban on all staff working overtime with a 24-hour strike beginning on Friday. One of the main reasons for the strike was due to staff feeling like they were caught “in the crossfire” in a bidding war for the routes used by the ferry service. CalMac and private firm Serco are involved in a bidding war for a new contract for services to the west coast islands that are currently operated by CalMac.
Members voted for industrial action with more than 90% of the ballot favouring going on strike.
The news comes despite the Scottish government, CalMac officials and Union representatives holding crisis talks in a bid to end any industrial action from going ahead. The government, who tendered the service due to EU law fear that such industrial action will affect thousands, with the service expected to draw to a standstill. Staff fear that any bid or takeover if the service is privatised will lead to job losses and voluntary redundancies. Despite concerns that the service is being privatised, the Scottish government has insisted that the service had to be tendered under EU laws.
General secretary of the RMT Union Mick Cash said: "The talks with CalMac have not made significant progress despite the best efforts of our negotiators and, as a result, the action goes ahead from Wednesday.
“That is a kick in the teeth for loyal and hard-working staff who have given long hard years of service at CalMac.
"RMT members on CalMac rightly feel that they are caught in the crossfire of an unnecessary and damaging tendering battle that leaves jobs, conditions and pensions hanging by a thread. That is simply intolerable.
"RMT wants cast iron assurances and we want them now and we are committed to engaging in meaningful talks around that agenda as we kick off the first phase of industrial action."
Martin Dorchester, CalMac's managing director, said: "We are disappointed that our dialogue with the RMT to avert industrial action this week has broken down.
"Our offer to provide assurance that we would include a commitment on no compulsory redundancies in our bid submission in return for the RMT calling off the industrial action planned for later this week was rejected.
"Failure to keep these discussions alive will be a disappointment, not just to those who will be losing pay this week but to potentially thousands of travellers of who will be disrupted. The threat of strike action also has major potential to damage the economies of the communities we are part of."
The managing director stated that the ferry service would attempt to offer a different timetable to deal with the industrial action.
The move comes amid UK government proposals to reform strike and industrial accidents, with the government hoping to introduce laws that mean there must be a 50% turnout threshold for ballots on industrial action. Furthermore, in core public services 40% of those eligible to vote must back action for strikes in core public services. The strict anti-strike rules will also look to remove the restrictions on using temporary workers to cover for striking staff.
If you require legal advice regarding strike action or any matter of employment law, our team of Glasgow based solicitors can help. Contact us today using our online contact form.
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