Serco Ferry

[shetlandpeat]

It could be said that that is the nub of it. Slightly moving away from the topic, it takes allot of manpower and machinery to enable Tesco to sell you milk from the south. You would have thought that there would be enough on the islands to go round.

 

State benefits are state funded, but we all pay.

 

Although the pay rise was accepted as agreed, it still is not a inflation linked rise. It cannot be used as a lever to justify the need not to strike about the other issues that affect ALL who have links to Shetland be it family, residence, a love of or a great place to find old fossils, not forgetting the rocks too.

 

As I said, the boat is the only other way of getting off and on the island that suits many folk. Air travel is unpredictable. Sea travel, for some is exciting. Already, for the swapping of location of second hand seats, we are looking at paying more if things for us go wrong. As a life line service, and one as said is affordable, if you really need to get south, you can just pay your cash for basic passage and if early enough get the couch in the lobby for less than £50. There is no money in folk sleeping on the floors (far more comfortable than the reclaimers, oops recliners) as I know.

 

The members of the RMT should be supported, if it makes their job safer. This in turn will make us a little safer. Mind, nothing could be safer I suppose than being left behind due to the forced cap on passengers.

 

Did my question about the security staff get answered? Are they part of the drill in emergencies. I would imagine there may be a need for more of them to enforce the comfort law.

[Muppet]

My concern is if they cut staff numbers, how will they ensure they can increase them at short notice when passenger numbers suddenly increase due to fog etc. I would think that if they fail in that, they are not meeting the contract! So you have to assume they can provide the service.

 

 

I've heard a number of times now that passengers have been left on the quayside both in Shetland and Orkney in November which is probably the quietest time of year. This without flight cancellations swelling the passenger numbers at short notice.

 

I'd rather not assume they can provide the service. To me it seems like they can no longer provide the lifeline service they were contracted to do and Tavish and the Scottish Government don't give a toss.

[owre-weel]

THE PROBLEM IS WHAT'S HE GOING TO DO NEXT,THOSE OF US THAT ARE LEFT NEED TO PROTECT WHAT WE HAVE.

 

Sorry about the capitals (Shouting) but I want people to understand what we are trying to do.

 

Sorry but I don't understand, that's the problem. Are you saying your striking, incase off what " he " is maybe going to do next?

[unlinkedstudent]

Did my question about the security staff get answered? Are they part of the drill in emergencies. I would imagine there may be a need for more of them to enforce the comfort law.

 

What the {'f' it was funny in Father Ted 'eck'} is it with you, SP? You know damned well my ex works as Security on the boat. Just as when you make out you know nowt about who Ghostrider is in real life, your memory seems to fail you - given that we spoke on the telephone.

 

Of course, the only peeps allowed to go off topic are you, aren't they?

[owre-weel]

My concern is if they cut staff numbers, how will they ensure they can increase them at short notice when passenger numbers suddenly increase due to fog etc. I would think that if they fail in that, they are not meeting the contract! So you have to assume they can provide the service.

 

 

I've heard a number of times now that passengers have been left on the quayside both in Shetland and Orkney in November which is probably the quietest time of year. This without flight cancellations swelling the passenger numbers at short notice.

 

I'd rather not assume they can provide the service. To me it seems like they can no longer provide the lifeline service they were contracted to do and Tavish and the Scottish Government don't give a toss.

 

If this is true Muppet then our councillors need to march on the SNP and get this sorted. But considering that the numbers are yet to be reduced (I believe), I can't see why the capacity wasn't there. Despite that, I don't believe Tavish would find that acceptable, although I do believe the Scottish Government wouldn't give a tis as you say

[Muppet]

If this is true Muppet then our councillors need to march on the SNP and get this sorted. But considering that the numbers are yet to be reduced (I believe), I can't see why the capacity wasn't there. Despite that, I don't believe Tavish would find that acceptable, although I do believe the Scottish Government wouldn't give a tis as you say

 

Friends who were travelling on the boat last month told me the number they could carry were reduced then. Remember that the crew numbers seem to have been reduced already by what I read. Ruidh said as much in his recent post above.

 

Serco have been very quiet about this, It makes you wonder what else they are not telling us.

[owre-weel]

If this is true Muppet then our councillors need to march on the SNP and get this sorted. But considering that the numbers are yet to be reduced (I believe), I can't see why the capacity wasn't there. Despite that, I don't believe Tavish would find that acceptable, although I do believe the Scottish Government wouldn't give a tis as you say

 

Friends who were travelling on the boat last month told me the number they could carry were reduced then. Remember that the crew numbers seem to have been reduced already by what I read. Ruidh said as much in his recent post above.

 

Serco have been very quiet about this, It makes you wonder what else they are not telling us.

thanks for that Muppet, that puts a different spin on the whole issue.

 

The fact that they will leave people on the quayside is totally unacceptable and if that is due to reduced staffing then surely Serco is not meeting the contract conditions! Time Tavish and the Shetland Transort Group cornered Serco and the Scottish Government for some clear answers.

[shetlandpeat]

 

What the {'f' it was funny in Father Ted 'eck'} is it with you, SP? You know damned well my ex works as Security on the boat. Just as when you make out you know nowt about who Ghostrider is in real life, your memory seems to fail you - given that we spoke on the telephone.

 

Of course, the only peeps allowed to go off topic are you, aren't they?

 

Again, nothing to do with the thread. To answer your questions, I have no idea who GR is nor am I interested, nor am I interested in your identity. If you want to broadcast your private affairs here, your problem.

When you searched for my number, then to ring me up to ask me to do something for you, which I did as we spoke, you did not tell me who GR was, you told me that he had helped you out considerably and you could not be able to repay his kindness.

 

The issues I mentioned with the security personnel was nothing to do with you, get that into your head.

 

The problem I was asking about was if the levels of security personnel contributed to the crew numbers for emergency drills and would they need more to enforce the new "sleeping" arrangements. This then hinting that could Serco replace valuable crew members with the security personnel, regardless of their associations (Unions, trade groups etc) and could they be then counted as crew.

No disrespect to security personnel, but I would prefer an accredited and certificated crew member to assist in any life or death situation on a boat, though I would not think they do not have their own vital role to execute.

[JustMe]

I think if a single prospective passenger is left on the quay because Serco have cut staffing levels on the ferries then, assuming the other companies tendering for the contract based their figures on being able to carry the full complement of passengers on any sailing, there must be grounds for the Scottish Government to closely examine the contract to see if Serco have broken any rules.

 

Now I am no great fan of the RMT and I do not disagree too much with Tavish Scott's comment about Bob Crow's ego but is it not time for the Scottish Government to question if Serco are a suitable company to run a lifeline service having had two strike ballots and now an actual strike when the ink has hardly had time to dry on the contract.

[tirvaluk]

The passenger reductions over the last month are all due to the refurbishment work that is going on aboard the vessels to the restaurant and bar etc.Nothing to do with future staff shortages.

[unlinkedstudent]

SP, you obviously have a very poor memory.

 

Never mind the security question being answered, how about you answer questions posed of you on other threads?

 

"No disrespect to security personnel, but I would prefer an accredited and certificated crew member to assist in any life or death situation on a boat, though I would not think they do not have their own vital role to execute."

 

"Accredited and certificated" how? How the hell do you think anyone gets to work on the boats? So do tell us, SP, just precisely what you mean by accredited and certificated. Do you have any idea what you are waffling on about?

 

So take, for example, someone you probably deem to be a member of the crew, let us just say the bloke behind the bar - how would they be "accredited and certificated"?

[Muppet]

The passenger reductions over the last month are all due to the refurbishment work that is going on aboard the vessels to the restaurant and bar etc.Nothing to do with future staff shortages.

 

So will the numbers return to the full capacity of 600 once the refurbishments are complete then? (I'm not suggesting you know tirvaluk, but does anybody?)

 

According to Ruidh's very informative post a while back. The passenger numbers will reduce to 350 due to the crew reductions, so even if the past month was due to the re-furb, then it is in effect only an early start to what will be the norm now that the crew have gone.

[Colin]

According to Ruidh's very informative post a while back. The passenger numbers will reduce to 350 due to the crew reductions, so even if the past month was due to the re-furb, then it is in effect only an early start to what will be the norm now that the crew have gone.

 

That's the way I read it as well and, I would rather believe a crew member that all the waffle and b*llsh*t merchants on here.

 

Are Serco going to tell the tourists to find another way to travel? If not, it's quite alarming.

[suuusssiiieee]

Are Serco going to enforce this "no sleeping rough policy"? are they going to physically chain/handcuff people to the adorable recliners?. are they going to get the bouncers sorry "security staff" to scoop people off the floor in the dead of the night? Ruidh what is the score regarding this matter? Thanks!

[owre-weel]

 

That's the way I read it as well and, I would rather believe a crew member that all the waffle and b*llsh*t merchants on here.

 

Are Serco going to tell the tourists to find another way to travel? If not, it's quite alarming.