The proposal by Stena Line to introduce a low-waged Polish crew on their Stena Seatrader ferry on the Dublin/Holyhead route from next July was yesterday condemned by International Transport Federation Inspector, Tony Ayton.
‘While the nationality of the crew on any vessel is not an issue for the trade union movement, the facts are that the British crew, who traditionally work that route, will very quickly become displaced since they will be unable to work for such low wages and support themselves and their families,’ said Ayton.
‘When Irish Ferries set about displacing the Irish crews of its vessels last year, we predicted that if they succeeded, then it was only a matter of time before their main competitor, Stena Line, would introduce similar proposals.
‘And that it would not be long before displacement spread to other ships, to the English Channel and finally to other shipping lines.
‘Consequently we warned that up to 3,000 British, French and Irish seafarers could lose their jobs and be replaced by cheaper labour.
‘At the time Stena Line denied they had any such plans for cheaper labour or displacing existing crews.
‘In Irish Ferries, the ITF and its affiliated trade unions managed, with the support of the great majority of the Irish people, to arrest the worst of many aspects of their low pay policies, but not the displacement of more than 500 Irish seafarers.
‘However, some valuable lessons were learnt from the Irish Ferries experience and it’s not too late to apply them in Stena Line.
‘If we have to mobilise the Irish people again in defence of seafarers jobs on Stena Line, then mobilise them we will’, he concluded.
