Cape Clear ferry crew protest pay cuts
The crew a State-subsidised ferryboat have today engaged in a one-day stoppage in protest of pay cuts.
According to the SIPTU union, the cuts for the crew of Naomh Ciaran II, operating out of Cape Clear in Co Cork, range from 22% for deckhands to 27% for the ship’s master.
The ferry company also expects employees to work four extra weeks between May and September for free, SIPTU has claimed.
The situation escalated last weekend when the skipper was told that he would be temporarily laid off for the entire month of June.
“The action by the company is both malicious and indicative of its overall approach to the dispute,” said SIPTU branch organiser Eddie Mullins. “We remain available for talks but have no option at this stage but to press ahead with our action.”
“The employees are very united and are determined to fight these unilateral cutbacks.”
Mr Mullins said that further action would take place if the dispute is not resolved.
Ferry owner Ciarán O’Driscoll said that SIPTU did not know the full facts of the case, claiming that he had to cut costs because a rival ferry operator was cherry-picking premium summer routes.
