RMT Supports Employment Rights Bill Amendments to Protect Seafarers

RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch expressed strong support for the amendments to the Employment Rights Bill in response to the P&O Ferries scandal. He described the scandal as a shameful episode in industrial relations history and emphasized the importance of the amendments in paving the way for a mandatory Seafarers Charter. This charter is aimed at protecting jobs and employment in the ferry sector and preventing a race to the bottom.

Lynch highlighted the RMT’s campaign for the Seafarers Charter and expressed a commitment to working with the government to further enhance employment conditions for seafarers. The goal is to establish the strongest possible set of employment conditions for all seafarers working on domestic or short sea international ferry routes from UK ports. This collaboration between the RMT and the government is seen as crucial in ensuring the protection of seafarers’ rights and promoting fair labor practices in the industry.

The amendments to the Employment Rights Bill are seen as a positive step towards addressing the issues raised by the P&O Ferries scandal. By advocating for the mandatory Seafarers Charter, the RMT aims to prevent similar incidents in the future and create a more secure and stable working environment for seafarers. The focus is on improving employment conditions and halting any decline in standards within the ferry sector.

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