Ferry workers vow not to obstruct services

Irish Ferries workers tonight vowed not to obstruct new services to relieve the build-up of trucks at ports.

The dispute over the outsourcing of jobs at the company has led Irish Ferries workers to refuse to sail on the Isle of Inishmore and the Ulysses, which are stranded in Wales.

The Jonathan Swift ferry is also still stranded in Dublin as port workers threaten to block any Irish Ferries vessel from docking.

SIPTU president Jack O’Connor said workers had no objection to two other companies providing extra ferry services at Rosslare and Cork ports.

“We have no trade dispute with these people. We do not wish to cause any unnecessary disruption to hauliers, exporters, importers, the travelling public or anyone else,” he said.

“Our dispute is with Irish Ferries. It is about job displacement, gross exploitation and establishing minimum standards for workers below which no employer will be allowed to stoop.”

With trucks sitting in ports for up to 24 hours awaiting transport, shipping agent Victor Treacy International has chartered a freight ferry to carry lorries to France.

The Brittany Ferries vessel is scheduled to leave Cherbourg today for Cork, before making a return trip tomorrow evening.

The ferry, which was chartered following moves by the Irish Road Hauliers Association, can carry 70 articulated trucks.

It is hoped it will alleviate frustration felt by many Irish exporters at their busiest time of year.

Dublin port workers have voted to support Irish Ferries staff fighting attempts to replace them with cheaper foreign labour, by refusing to handle any of the firm’s ships.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions is organising rallies across the country for next Friday in support of the Irish Ferries workers.

After five days of intensive effort, the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) has so far failed to come up with a peace formula in the dispute.