Ferry union on dispute

With inter-islands ferry services being disrupted due to industrial action and staffing issues, the union responsible for many of the crew members has issued a statement on the situation.

Tommy Campbell, UNITE regional officer, said the Shapinsay ferry is now tied up, and has been since noon today, Wednesday, because the Orkney Ferries does not have the staffing levels to run the service.

He added: “The Orkney Ferries board and Orkney Islands Council need to seriously attempt to resolve the pay dispute. In the next few months, as tourists also arrive on the islands, can they really afford to see the ferries continuously disrupted?

“Management have an opportunity to resolve this even through the offices of ACAS. They have the funds to sort this dispute out – in fact millions of pounds are lying in the harbour fund that could be put to good use and find its way into the wages of ferry staff, and eventually spent by the staff in local businesses too.”

He added: “This makes good sense, its good for staff, its good for local businesses, and what more could the Orkney Islands Council really want, when you would then have content staff and happy business people on the Islands.

“The board should now really want to treat staff with respect and pay them decent wages, the same as other ferry companies.”