Union accuses Irish Ferries of intimidating staff

SIPTU has accusing Irish Ferries of bullying its staff with a new letter circulated today by the company.

The ferry company plans to replace almost 550 staff on its UK routes with cheaper workers from overseas.

Today's letter reminded workers that anyone who fails to meet Sunday's deadline will not qualify for the voluntary redundancy package.

Paul Smyth, SIPTU secretary, said the company was effectively demanding employees accept the job cuts were happening and to take the only deal on offer.

“It is one more instance of the bully boy tactics that have marked the company’s approach since it began outsourcing services and downgrading pay and conditions earlier this year,” Mr Smyth said.

“It has treated the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Labour Court, the National Implementation Body and even the employers’ organisation IBEC with contempt.

“So it is perhaps not surprising it is now resorting to these tactics to pressurise employees into making a crucial decision about their futures.”

Irish Ferries blamed rising costs for the decision to cut 543 jobs on routes to Wales. Management claimed the situation on services between Dublin and Holyhead and Rosslare and Pembroke had deteriorated in the last year with a 9% drop in the number of car passengers.

They said the only way to address the threat of huge financial losses was to hire cheap labour from overseas, at one third of the cost of Irish workers.

The Government could be hit with a massive bill to cover the redundancy package. But the Department of Enterprise has said it is seeking the Attorney General’s advice on whether the scheme qualifies as a genuine redundancy scheme.

Management warned staff to apply for the voluntary redundancy scheme by this Friday or they could miss out.