Wightlink staff strikes planned for Isle of Wight Festival weekend

Isle of Wight Festival weekend, Easter and the May Bank Holiday weekend are among the dates that Wightlink staff have been told not to book onto as part of a strike against the ferry company.

Last month the RMT union demanded Wightlink, which operates two routes between Portsmouth and the island – to Fishbourne and to Ryde – withdrew proposals to close its defined benefit pension scheme to existing members and its reintroduction of flexible working to which all employees were subject in the first six months of the pandemic.

Union members voted for strike action in an ‘overwhelming' majority ballot.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: ‘Our members have bent over backwards to help the company survive during this pandemic only to be treated as cannon fodder. This union will not tolerate the contempt towards our members, the processes and legislation set up for good industrial relations.’

A Wightlink spokeswoman said: ‘Very few people are now travelling and passenger numbers are unlikely to return to normal in the near future. Other companies in the transport sector have already announced redundancies and pay cuts as a response to the severe financial situation in 2020, which is continuing.

‘Our proposal covers changes to pensions, including a doubling of company pension contributions for the majority of colleagues, and flexible working to help Wightlink become a more sustainable business. This proposal avoids compulsory redundancies or pay cuts.

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‘We are disappointed the RMT has announced strike dates while formal consultations are still under way. We are confident we will be able to reach agreement with the union on these issues in the coming weeks.’

RMT said they remain available for talks and negotiations to resolve the issues.

All Wightlink Ltd and all Wightlink (Guernsey) Ltd members have been told not to book on for any shifts that commence between the following dates:- Friday April 2 (Good Friday) to Monday April 5 (Easter Monday)- Friday May 28 - Monday May 31 (Bank Holiday Monday)- Friday June 4 to Sunday June 6- Friday June 11 to Sunday June 13- Friday June 18 to Sunday June 20 (Isle of Wight Festival)- Friday June 25 to Sunday June 27

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