Island ferry crew on one-day strike over proposed pay cuts

PICKETS will be placed today on a state-subsidised ferry that serves the country’s most southerly inhabited island.

SIPTU will mount the day-long strike at Baltimore in west Cork in protest at pay cuts affecting the four crew of the Naomh Ciarán II, which plies the route between the mainland and Cape Clear, 13 kilometres off the south-west coast.

SIPTU, which represents the vessel’s four crew, said the strike is over pay cuts ranging from 22% for deckhands to 27% for the ship’s master.