Exporters' warning on ferry strike

Exporters warned today businesses would be hit hard if Irish Ferries’ services to the United Kingdom were disrupted by strike.

The company has refused to accept a Labour Court ruling not to lay off 543 seafarers, sparking fears that workers may vote for industrial action while management may decide to end services.

John Whelan, Irish Exporters Association chief executive, said any disruption in trade links to Britain would be very damaging.

“It’s not a good scenario for exporters and its not a good scenario for anybody trading in Ireland whether you are importing or exporting,” he said.

“Inevitably there will be disruption, and there’s no certainty that another operator would come in.”

But Mr Whelan stressed that nowadays outsourcing was part and parcel of doing business in the global market.

“We fully understand their need to remain competitive, we can’t say we can offer a higher rate so they can survive on a higher cost base. They have to make up their own mind,” he said.

“There’s no point in us pointing fingers at one sector, right across all sectors outsourcing has become the norm.”

The bitter dispute between unions and management at Irish Ferries broke out after the company revealed controversial plans to replace Irish workers with cheap labour from eastern Europe.

Management blamed rising fuel costs, low fares airlines and a fall-off in passenger numbers for the move. They also claimed competitors were operating from a lower cost base by outsourcing agency staff.

And if the firm ends operations to the UK only two companies will operate on the Irish Sea, Stenaline and Norse Merchant Ferries, while around a quarter of freight capacity will be lost.

Paul Smyth, SIPTU branch secretary, said staff were worried Irish Ferries would close down routes out of Dublin.

“I have no doubt that there are fears but equally this route will be in high demand. Irish Ferries would be immediately replaced by another operator if they pulled out,” he said.

“There would be hundreds of ferry operators which would be mad keen to get on the Irish Sea.”

Mr Smyth said SIPTU would begin balloting workers on strike action from tomorrow.