UK trade unions to hold protest for Irish Ferries workers

British trade unionists are due to mount a protest in the Welsh port of Holyhead today to show solidarity with workers at Irish Ferries.

The demonstration has the backing of the British Trades Union Congress and is designed to highlight opposition to "job displacement", the erosion of employment standards and the exploitation of workers.

Irish Ferries is currently trying to replace all its seafaring staff with cheaper labour from Eastern Europe.

The company wants to hire these new workers on less than the minimum wage and with considerably weaker terms of employment that those currently in existence.

It can get away with this by re-registering its vessels under a so-called "flag of convenience", thereby circumventing Irish labour law.

Irish Ferries management and SIPTU representatives have been in talks on the matter at the Labour Relations Commission for the past two days, but it is unclear if any resolution can be found.