Stena policy could bring about dispute

Stena Line's plan to introduce a European crew with lower pay on its Dublin to Holyhead route is likely to bring about industrial action on the Irish sea.

The company is planning to move the Stena Seatrader freight ferry from its existing route, Killingholme to Hook of Holland, to the Dublin to Holyhead route in July.

Up to 20 deck and engine crew on the Stena Seatrader will be paid less than their colleagues when they move to the route. They are employed by Northern Marine Management, Stena's subsidiary.

The Stena Adventurer and Stena Explorer ferries are already on the same route. There is an existing port agreement with the British National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) covering pay there.
The RMT warned that introducing lower paid workers to the jobs could impact on British and Irish jobs in the Irish sea.
Steve Todd, RMT national secretary said that people must be paid the rate for the job agreed between the firm and the union. He also warned Stena that the union would endorse its members.

"Stena should understand that we will take the necessary steps to defend our national agreement, and that RMT will back industrial action by our members if it becomes necessary," he said.
A Stena line spokesman said, however, that the company did not intend having foreign crew on its ships.
"Unlike other shipping companies, the company has no intention of introducing foreign crew on any of the existing vessels that operate on the Irish sea and if any of the vessels are replaced, the existing agreements with RMT to continue to apply."