December 2007.pdf - Nautilus NL

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4 ✪ ●Nautilus UK Telegraph ●✪ DECEMBER 2007BID TO IMPROVESMIT ROSTERSNAUTILUS UK industrial officerGavin Williams is picturedduring a visit to membersemployed at Smit International’sPlymouth base.The meeting with memberstook place ahead of discussionswith management on a numberof issues affecting the work/lifebalance of officers workingonboard the vessels Smit Dart,Smit Yare and Smit Tamar.‘Nautilus is now working withthe company on ways in whichwe can improve upon the currentwork rosters at the base,’ saidMr Williams. ‘In particular, weare looking at an agreement thatwill give masters the discretionto stand down crews in certaincircumstances.’A review period of 17 weekshas been suggested, he added.MDHC PAY ROLLCONSULTATIONNAUTILUS UK has joined withother unions representing MerseyDocks & Harbour Company staffto discuss company proposals tochange pay roll procedures.Management have presentedplans to harmonise the current13 pay roll systems into a singlemethod.The company wants toimplement the changes in Aprilnext year, and Nautilus UK hassecured assurances that themove to 13 salary payments perannum will reflect the actualhours worked by members.Industrial officer Garry Elliottsaid the proposals had thepotential to be contentious, butunions are seeking to ensure thatthe company is made aware ofany changes that could provedetrimental.newsbriefly...United approach: British and Dutch seafarers serving withP&O Ferries met in Hull last month to discuss a wide range ofissues, including drug and alcohol policy, profit share, andcollective bargaining agreements. Nautilus UK industrialofficer Joe Heeney described the talks as ‘very positive’ andsaid they were a good example of the benefits of the linksbetween Nautilus UK and Nautilus NL.Nedlloyd pressed: Nautilus UK is pressing Maersk Nedlloydfor a response to its claim for a substantial pay increase formembers. Senior national secretary Paul Moloneycommented: ‘We are disappointed by the delay and have madethis clear to the company. However, we have been assured thatthis is because management is giving serious consideration tothe submission.’WIGHT VISITNAUTILUS UK industrial officerJonathan Havard is picturedright with chief engineer officerVince Lovell and Captain MartinAdams during a visit to theLymington-Yarmouth ferryCenwulf last month.Mr Havard met membersahead of a meeting withWightlink management on thisyear’s pay and conditions claim,which seeks a 7.5% increase thisyear and RPI plus 1% in 2008.Mr Havard said the companyhad made a formal offer innegotiations with the Union lastmonth, but Nautilus UK was notin a position to consult membersuntil it received feedback oncounter-proposals.IoMSP visits: with the two-year Isle of Man Steam PacketCompany pay deal still in force, there is now the time andspace to work on a terms and conditions update, saysindustrial officer Steve Doran. Members’ views have beengathered during a series of ship visits, and detailed work onthe terms and conditions will start shortly.Trinity revision: Nautilus UK?has sought feedback frommembers serving with Trinity House on the outcome of itsSVS pay evaluation. Industrial officer Jonathan Havard saidthe exercise would give members additional increases worthbetween 1% and 3.2%, depending on rank, effective fromAugust 2007.PNTL partnership: five nominations have been accepted forthe company's new liaison committee — but Nautilus UK isurging more members to come forward to fill the remainingseven places on the committee. Industrial officer Steve Doransaid the body has many important issues to deal with.Azalea review: Nautilus UK has called for a substantial payrise for members serving with Azalea car carriers. The Unionis seeking to maintain differentials and to secure aconsolidated salary and permanent terms and conditions.Weir submission: Nautilus UK has presented a pay claim onbehalf of members employed by BIS on Andrew Weir vessels.The Union is seeking an above-inflation increase, a loyaltybonus and seniority payments.Stena confirmation: Stena Line has confirmed that memberswill receive a 4.5% pay increase effective from 1 November2007, as part of an inflation plus 0.6% deal in a two-year payagreement with the Union.UECC claim: following feedback from members employed byUECC (Guernsey), Nautilus UK has presented a claim for anabove-inflation pay rise, a bonus scheme, seniority payments,and reduced tour lengths.Fisher liaison: Nautilus UK has reported a positive responseto a call for delegates for a new partnership at work committeefor the combined James Fisher/FT Everard fleet.Intrada request: Nautilus UK has requested a meeting withIntrada Ship Management to discuss a claim for a substantialacross-the-board pay increase for members.Forth call: a claim for an above-RPI pay increase, sick pay andstandby pay has been submitted by Nautilus UK on behalf ofmembers serving with Forth Tankers.NEW HOPE AT RFADifferentials issue could be tackled as part of 2008 pay processNAUTILUS UK has urged Northlink Ferriesmanagement to give its officers a substantialpay increase and additional leave to addressrecruitment and retention issues.The Union met the company in Aberdeenlast month to submit a claim for a 6% pay riseand the introduction of four weeks’ annualleave entitlement.National secretary Ronnie Cunninghamsaid management told the Union there was stillno remit on pay from the Scottish government,NAUTILUS UK national secretaryPaul Keenan is pictured withmembers onboard the Royal FleetAuxiliary vessel Lyme Bay inPortland last month during aseries of ship visits to discuss thelatest developments in the disputeover leave harmonisation.Following a stage two meetingin the disputes procedures, theUnion has moved to consult memberson proposals to suspend theprocess to enable discussions to beheld in the hope of securing anagreement under a new pay remitthat takes effect next year.Mr Keenan said the ship visitshave provided a chance for membersto seek further informationand clarity about the proposals.He stressed that the move tonegotiate on the issues within the2008 pay process does not meanthat any settlement is tied to theoutcome of next year’s pay talks.‘The move has been madebecause the Treasury guidelineshave changed for the next payround, to allow savings made to bere-invested,’ he explained. ‘As aresult, we intend to run negotiationson our claim in respect ofleave harmonisation in tandemwith the pay process and to aim fora form of payment that willbecome payable on 1 July 2008.‘However,’ he stressed, ‘even ifwe are unable to reach agreementon pay on 1 July next year, thisshould not affect the discussionson restoring differentials betweenofficers and ratings.’Mr Keenan stressed that hehad secured assurances from theRFA that the move would not beused as a stalling tactic, and thatthe Union could revert to stagethree of the disputes process if thetalks fail to make progress.so it was not possible to make an offer.‘They went on to say that they expect theremit, when it comes, to be grim — because discussionsbetween Scotland and Westminstersuggested that the amount of money will beseverely restrained,’ he added.‘For our part, we concentrated on the claimfor four weeks’ holiday,’ Mr Cunninghamexplained, ‘emphasising that other major operatorshave such entitlements for their officersand that there is presently a tribunal underway‘The next stage will be to startoff the 2008 pay process, and weare planning to have a pay andconditions claim ready to submitearly in the new year,’ he added.High on the agenda will be adesire to address the contentiousissue of concessionary travelarrangements,’ Mr Keenan said.Northlink urged to address leave claimin Aberdeen on the rights of offshore workersto four weeks of leave a year.‘Although it may be true that there may beno legal right for the implementation of theworking time directive, from a purely industrialpoint of view the pool of well qualified officersis decreasing and the shortage is startingto bite for Northlink,’ he stressed.‘If this element of the claim is not addressed,I believe these difficulties will continue toincrease.’
DECEMBER 2007 ✪ ●Nautilus UK Telegraph ●✪5ORKNEY ACTION’S‘SOLID SUPPORT’NAUTILUS UK members servingwith Orkney Ferries are stillobserving an overtime ban whileefforts continue to resolve theindustrial dispute with thecompany.Industrial officer Steve Dorantold the Telegraph that he isworking with fellow unions RMTand Unite (T&G section) to set upa meeting of all parties as soon aspossible.The overtime ban began inOctober after members votedunanimously in favour of takingindustrial action short of a strikein protest at the failure to secureimprovements to a rejected payoffer.Mr Doran said members hadbeen solid in their support of theaction, which has had an impacton services.NORFOLKLINE INTALKS ON TERMSNAUTILUS UK industrial officerGavin Williams is pictured leftwith Captains Antonio Carielloand Garry Strangwood during avisit to the ferry Dublin Vikinglast month.Mr Williams met members onthe vessel as part of a series ofmeetings to discuss issues inadvance of talks with Maerskmanagement on variouselements of the terms andconditions for seafarers servingon Norfolkline vessels.Because a long-term payagreement runs until 2009, theUnion is now seeking to addressother elements of the workingpackage. Points identified bymembers include the possibilityof a combined Dover/Irish Seaagreement, differentials, sickleave and mileage allowances.newsUNITY DEAL‘WIN-WIN’AT CALMACSingle agreement consultationFOLLOWING months of negotiations,members serving withCaledonian MacBrayne are beingconsulted on plans for a singleagreement covering terms andconditions on the Clyde andWestern Isles services.Nautilus UK industrial officerGarry Elliott said the proposalswere significant and could deliverimportant benefits to members.‘We think it is a “win-win” package,’he added.The move to put the proposalsout to the membership wasbacked at a meeting of liaison officersand partnership delegates,and Nautilus UK hopes that if theconsultation proves positive thesingle agreement could be in placefor the new year.‘This is something that hasbeen worked on for the past 30years and we are pleased that wenow have concrete proposals toput to the membership,’ said MrElliott.‘We are in the position wherethe tendering process every sixyears will pose a constant threat ofa private operator coming in,’ headded. ‘In this context, a singleagreement will create unity andstrength and help to protect jobsand conditions.’Mr Elliott said the Union hadsecured a number of importantsafeguards — including an agreementthat there will be no adversechanges to any member’s termsand conditions, and that all officerswill be allowed to remainworking in the existing geographicalareas.There is also a 12-month ‘disclaimer’period, allowing bothsides to come to the table with anyissues missed through the negotiatingprocess.Mr Elliott said the unified fleetwould provide members withgreater opportunities for promotionand career development.The changes would also meanthe application of hours of restregulations across the entire fleet— which in turn should lead toincreased crewing and a move totwo-on/two-off tour rotation.Officer reps have been visitingships in November, and theNautilus UK consultation outcomeis expected to be known byDecember.If the result is positive, a furtherpartnership forum will bearranged for early in the month toratify the agreement — with theaim of making it effective from 1January.PICTURED above are Nautilus UK liaisonofficers from around the UK meeting atthe Union’s head office last month.The meeting was called to discuss theproposals to create, with the Dutchpartner union Nautilus NL, a new unionfor maritime professionals.Assistant general secretary MarkNAUTILUS UK has welcomed an agreementbetween European maritime unions andshipowners that paves the way for the introductionof the ‘bill of rights’ for seafarers.The European Transport Workers’Federation and the European CommunityShipowners Association deal covers the incorporationinto Community law of key provisionsof the ILO Maritime Labour Convention.Dickinson told the Telegraph the forumhad provided a platform to explain thebackground to the plans. He said thefeedback had been positive, withconstructive discussion on the wayforward.Nautilus UK’s policy of expanding theinput and involvement of lay representatives has been payingdividends, with the number of liaisonofficer and partnership delegate postshaving tripled over the past six years.The Union is now considering plans tostage an annual event for lay reps, todiscuss developments and issues oftopical relevance to the membership.EU agreement on seafarer ‘bill of rights’It was reached after a year of negotiationsbetween the two sides, and it is hoped that itwill be formally signed in February 2008 — onthe second anniversary of the ILO agreementon the bill of rights.The agreement means that key elements ofthe convention will be adopted through an EUdirective that will require member states totranspose the contents into their domestic legislation.Both ETF and ECSA have requestedthe Commission to start working on a proposalfor a Council decision, under which the provisionscontained in their agreement should beimplemented within the European Union.In concluding the agreement, ETF andECSA stressed the need for a level playing field,with labour standards applicable to all seafarersonboard vessels.NAUTILUS UK industrialofficer Gavin Williams ispictured above withmembers of the Red Funnelliaison officer committee,Captain Steve Poole, PCODave Hughes and chiefengineer Michael Clark.Mr Williams met members todiscuss the Union’s position innegotiations withmanagement on the winterroster patterns. As a result ofrepresentations by NautilusUK, the company hasamended the schedules.‘Members raised concernsabout the impact on work/lifebalance, rest periods andtravelling time,’ Mr Williamsexplained. ‘The company hasresponded positively, and wewill now have regularquarterly meetings withmanagement — with the firstdue to take place in January.’
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