SHETLAND ferry crews have voted to strike after a pay dispute lasting
five years.
Should the industrial action go ahead as planned on August 18,
thousands of islanders on nine ferry routes will be cut off from the
Shetland mainland.
The economy of the islands, including tourism, could be badly hit
unless further talks between the ferry operator, Shetland Islands
Council, and the union avert the strike.
Mr John Taylor, the Transport and General Workers union officer in
Aberdeen, yesterday announced the results of a ballot of almost 100
ferry workers.
Eighty six members voted for industrial action and four were against.
A total of 101 ballot papers were sent out. Mr Taylor confirmed the
strike would start on August 18.
The dispute has been going on for five years after an agreement
resulted in some workers being paid more than others for the same work.
Now the union wants to see rates of pay made equal.
The council has said it cannot afford the union's proposals and
instead wants the issue linked with new plans for training for the
crews, claiming better qualifications will lead to higher rates of pay.
Mr Taylor said: ''We have been meeting with the council over the last
four weeks and have put proposals that would limit the initial impact of
paying the same rate of pay. So far, there has been no response.''
He added: ''We have been asking for the same rates of pay for the last
five years so, unless the council is prepared to give us that, the
strike will go ahead.''
Mr Jim Smith, council vice convener, said negotiations had not broken
down and a meeting with union representatives was planned for today.
He said increasing workers' pay would lead to cuts in the service or
increased fares. Councillors will discuss a response to the strike
threat, he added.
It is not clear what would happen in a medical emergency. If it does
not warrant an airlift, the ferries are normally called out.
Mr Taylor said the union had been asking the council to discuss
emergency cover for the last three months but the council had refused to
talk about it.
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