Ferry company threatens to sue over claims staff get less than €2 an hour

MANAGEMENT at a ferry company last night threatened to sue union representatives who claimed workers were being paid less than €2 an hour.

Swansea Cork Ferries said the claim was deliberately aimed at scuttling a service worth €35 million annually to the economy.

A spokesperson for the ferry company said it was initiating legal proceedings against the International Transport Workers Federation and other named people following, what it claimed, were “wholly inaccurate remarks” made by union officials at a press conference held yesterday in Connolly Hall, Cork.

The spokesperson flatly denied the claims that it underpaid its mainly Eastern European crew and rubbished union suggestions they were working excessive hours which could have an impact on safety aboard its vessel, MV Superferry.

The International Transport Workers Federation claimed the ship’s 85 strong crew, mainly Poles and Ukrainians, were being paid less than €2 per hour and were working an average of 14-hours a day, seven days a week.

Union representative Norrie McVicker said they had tried to negotiate an increase for the crew but this had been turned down by the ferry company.

However, a spokesman Swansea Cork Ferries said the union had been completely inaccurate as it had increased wages from November 1 last by even more than the ITWF had asked for. He said stewards were now getting up to €1,400 per month, including overtime, while assistant stewards were getting up to €1,350.

He also said there was no question of crew members working excessive hours.

The union press conference heard that dock workers and others aiding the ferry service would withdraw their labour in support of the crew.

ITWF inspector, Tony Ayton said: “We will pull the trigger, the port workers of Swansea and the port workers of Cork won’t stand idly by.”