Another festive ferry strike on the cards?

Shipping union RMT is balloting members for strike action in a battle over pay on Orkney Ferries.

The balloting timetable will be concluded by early December, allowing any action to take place over the December/January period.

According to the union, discussions with Orkney Ferries have now concluded, with the company not willing to support a general pay increase at this time and stating that any increase must be funded by efficiency savings in other costs of employment.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: “It is outrageous that Orkney Ferries have come up with precisely nothing despite hours and hours of talks and despite the helpful intervention of ACAS. It is that attitude which has left us no option but to now move to a ballot of staff for strike action.”

In a statement, Orkney Ferries has confirmed it has received formal notification of a ballot for industrial action from the RMT, whose members work on the three ferries serving the outer North Isles.

The statement added: “The public sector continues to face a significant reduction in funding, due to the global economic crisis. This has led to significant restrictions in pay increases in the last three years, including a two-year pay freeze currently in place for local government staff, and significant job losses in the sector, although this has not been the case for employees within Orkney Ferries Ltd.

“Orkney Ferries Ltd is heavily subsidised by the [Orkney Islands] Council, which restricts the ability of the company to meet the aspirations of the unions.”