Wightlink workers prepare to strike over 'attack' on pensions and conditions

The RMT said Wightlink has appeared to dismiss an offer of government funding that could be used to ‘ease the financial pressure created by the pandemic’.

But bosses at Wightlink said the cash it is accepting is ‘far smaller than our current losses’ and it needs to cut costs to survive.

Now the union is preparing to strike from April. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: ‘Senior management at Wightlink are exploiting the second wave of the crisis by trying to force through permanent contractual changes and pension cuts which my members have rejected.

‘Wightlink’s loyal staff gave up pay and mucked in to see the company through the first wave of the pandemic and now they see the employer turning their nose up at public funds to maintain the supply chain and links to emergency NHS treatment during a second, deadlier wave of Covid-19.

‘This is no way to run a lifeline ferry service in a time of deepening crisis and I urge the employer to take up unconditional financial support from the taxpayer and then get back around the negotiating table with RMT.’

The union said Wightlink chief executive Keith Greenfield appeared in a video describing the £6.5m pot offered by the government as ‘numbers I don’t recognise from the scheme details I’ve seen’.

Mr Greenfield told The News: ‘Wightlink is accepting all available Government support.

‘However, the level of such funding is far smaller than our current losses and does not avoid the need for us to reduce our costs to survive the crisis and create a sustainable cost base which will avoid job losses.

‘Wightlink has consulted with its employees on how to protect jobs and ensure it survives this serious financial crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

‘The proposal covers changes to pensions including a substantial improvement in pension provision for the majority of our employees. The proposal also avoids compulsory redundancies which have occurred in other ferry operators.

‘We are disappointed the RMT has responded by announcing strike dates later in the year. We are calling on the RMT to call off its action to avoid the risk of compulsory redundancies. We remain in contact with them to try and achieve this.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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