December 2007.pdf - Nautilus NL

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.’