ruidh

So you work 22 weeks a year then, not 21. That will make a big difference to those in the real world working ~46 weeks a year. There was me thinking teachers had it good! Can you clear up what is possibly an Urban Myth doing the rounds up here, in that the ferry cannot be tied up at midnight so that the crews on the NorthLink boats qualify not to pay UK tax on their substantial earnings? Sorry to disappoint "stirrer". Even if it was true,it's the Goverment who set the timetable, and if they set it for the ferry to sail at two in the morning then two it would be or three,it wouldn't be for the boats to decide.Good idea though, (Note to self) Must start a campaign to get the Goverment to stop taxing British seamen,so as we can add to our substantial wages.

Mate,once you see the new prices you won't be able to afford fish and chips let alone a pint.As for coffee we will use the smell of it to bring you round!!!

You fancy doing this for a hobby. I, personally, would have no problem with a job on the ferry. Indeed, when planning what to do when leaving school, tried for the merchant navy, but unfotrtunatley in the mid 80's opportunities were few and far between. I assume you were aware of the likely conditions encountered on the North Sea before applying for a job with P&O / NorthLink, so you must be happy to work in the on the ship. If not, take the generous voluntary redundancy offer and move on. Continually complaining about the possible conditions you face will not cut it with the majority of people in the islands. Many many people face horrid conditions aty work - nurses, policemen at RTA's, even construction workers on a bad day, but none of them have been handed a 10% pay rise in the last 3 years. Most of them also have the 'endure' their conditions for more than 21 weeks a year as well. 1.Some of us joined the Merchant Navy when trips were spoken of in 6,8,9, months even 1 year trips weren't unusual. To come from that to two week on two weeks of was a long hard fight,it wasnt handed to us on a plate,That's why we're trying to protect what we have,and if you'd had been successful in gaining a career in the MN you may have been fighting for the same things.unless of course your one of these people who just roll over and take what's given to you. 2. I was in bad weather long before I came to the North Sea. 3.Not everyone was accepted for redundancy,and not every department was offered iit. You should check your facts. 4.We are not complaining we are merely replying to some of the misinformed on here.... If you want better conditions in your employment join a Union ,fight for it,,instead of moaning about what other people have. 5.Not once have we asked for the Islanders to" cut it" as you put it,but We appreciate any backing we get and are gratefully for it. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

You fancy doing this for a hobby.

Haw, thats no allowed, insider information !!!!!! Suppose your right Chook ...anyways could do with a few bob win to pay for my new Hoose!!!! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- All roads lead to Govan.

Your right,they aren't on nothing and here's one reason why!!

mmm think what a public owned company are offering its staff is our concern. if the scottish goverment give even 1 pence in support then it becomes public business; lets get this straight your getting 1.5 plus 4.5 plus 4.5 or 10.5 over 3 years. were every other public sector worker got 1% over the same 3 years. ever thought that may be a reason that they need to cut staff you have priced the jobs out of existence. Do people begrudge working men and women a pay rise ??? yes if its out of step with reality. Mmmmmm, the pay rise was agreed with the Scottish exec and Northlink. Most working men and woman would say good for you ,go for it,unlike some people who are just jealous .Why shouldn't we get some of what the Bankers and Executives in quangoes etc been getting for years. Do people begrudge a decent wage for the men and women who work in these conditions --------------------------------------------------------------------------- All roads to Govan

Lets hope things do reach a mutual agreement,but didn't it take a strike to get Serco to the table? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- All roads should Lead to Govan!!!!!!

Passengers have already been left on the quayside. Albeit this was down to the "exciting refurb" being carried out at the time,but with the minimum manning level being reduced this is just the tip of the iceberg. Stuart Garrett seems to think that that crew will sit at home on no wages on the off chance that they will get a phone call to go aboard when the passenger figures go over 300.I dont know what planet he is from but this will not work on mine!! What is he going to do ?open a box ? As ruidh has already stated, the pay rise was negotiated nearly 18 months ago with the then employer, Northlink. Not that this has anything to do with anyone on here but the agreement was 1.5% pay rise last year, 4.25% this year and the same again next year. This was NEGOTIATED and agreed with both employers and scottish government, and was part of the agreement that whoever took over the contract would honour this deal. The pay rise kicked in on Oct 1st, so any statements from Serco regarding a pay rise is purely inflammatory and just to muddy the waters and divert attention away from the real issues. As has been mentioned before, this is STILL below the rate of inflation. Do people begrudge working men and women a pay rise ??? On yourself Chook......by the way the strikes been suspended,I'd like to think this is a positive move,but I'd be very wary of Mr G he's a sly character,nothing to say he doesn't keep them talking till after the festive period then bang he battens down the hatches again.But hey let's not be cynical maybe there is a Santa,only thing is I don't remember him being 4 foot with horns ,and a tail!!!!

The 4% pay rise was over three years and was agreed with the previous Employer,and it was an agreement which both parties were happy with,and yes I think I'm worth it and,I think I'm worth it when I'm out in bad weather night after night,making sure you can get your fresh milk in Tesco's. The redundancies are done,no one can bring these people back and yes they received a reasonable package.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.

http://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2012/12/15/strike-is-about-union-leaders-ego-says-scott. Tavish,if you read this,your talking rubbish.The people on the ships just want their terms and conditions protected.Instead of making silly statements why don't you act as a go between and earn yourself some brownie points. If its true what Kieth brown said in the Scottish parliament the other day... "For example, as I understand it, there's a commitment from Serco that the terms and conditions which apply to staff will not be revisited again.". Then all Serco have to do is to convey this in writing to the Ships and your strikes over,and mind I said to the Ships.

I'm afraid I have to agree with you there.

Part of statement made to Scottish parliament by Transport minister. "For example, as I understand it, there's a commitment from Serco that the terms and conditions which apply to staff will not be revisited again"

Thanks for that. A source told me last night that the RMT have twice asked for the dispute to be referred to ACAS, with no response from Serco. Seems serco aren't talking to anyone.

RFR937 have you had any reply from Mr Scott?

PART OF STATEMENT ON NORTHLINKS WEB SITE “We appreciate that the impact of any strike action over the busy festive season would be disappointing for our customers. Our aim is to minimise disruption to the public and we fail to understand why the RMT is continuing with industrial action. We have been trying to contact the RMT and remain hopeful they will respond to our most recent request in a positive fashion.â€

Chust so,chust so,"Just me".They also have to endure continuous days of bad weather, where as the passenger gets of goes homes ,the crew still have to put in a days work and then battle through it again that night, and so on it goes.

I may have got this wrong, but my understanding is that the overall reduction in staffing level amounts to 2 per vessel per shift. This is not a large number in the grand scheme of things, and has already been achieved by voluntary redunacy offers. I agree that the changes that may be coming on extra costs of a non cabin passage on the boats are at odds with lifeline service criteria. However, the answer to anyone either trying to 'sell' extra services or tell you not to sleep on the floor is to politely say 'no thanks, i'm fine where i am' Correct. You have got this wrong. The vessels run with a crew and a back-to back crew. Therefore your understanding is 3 ships x 2 shifts x 2 crew = 12 crew reduction ? What happened to the other 24 ? In the great scheme of things this is no big deal,but 36 redundancys (whether compulsary or voluntary makes no difference) from ONE department is unsustainable. This amounts to one complete shift, including the back-to-back shift. The workload of these guys who no longer wish to be a part of this money making exercise called serco, is now spread over the remaining crew. This amounts to substantial changes of terms and conditions which have been negotiated over the past 20+ years. Why should we accept these changes which serco are trying to bulldoze through without any negotiation or discussion with the people at the sharp end ? Stuart Garrett then trying to take the pi** out of the people of Orkney and Shetland by dressing this up as "an improved service". Aye, right. With higher charges all round and less crew to deliver said "improved service" Chust so,chust so,Chook,!!!!!!!

I haven't had a Christmas at home for the last 10 years,but then that's the nature of my job. A 4% pay rise is good ,it was negotiated as deal over 3 years ,and there was no talk of strikes or being dictated to.The management at the time negotiated, as did the management in the P&O days. No trouble for 30 years untill now,ask yourself why. I personally hope that there isn't a strike, and that you and everybody else can spend Christmas with their families, but unfortunately the fear is that T&Cs are next,and why should we give up what we have just because Serco management don't like it.Would you be willing to give up your T&Cs with out a fight? As for "jumping down people's throats" this is a forum your entitled to your opinion and me to mine," kettle pot black"springs to mind.

Another Serco press release. Funny you and Jmc have just signed on to this Forum !!! I wouldn't call sitting behind a desk pushing a pen around, work.

Your post should have Serco press release stamped all over it!!!! One other thing before you go shouting about your taxes,Serco are up there with Amazon, and Starbucks, in the dodgy accounting business ,next time your talking to them ask them how much as a group Serco managed to avoid paying in taxes. Quote from a previous contributor .... "Serco have broken the law at least 252 times. This with one contract. They were guilty of altering GP records to help with chronic under staffing." And your happy enough to let them run your lifeline service.

The ballot was legal no argument their you seem to forget the dates were set by Crow and Co after the ballot, I doubt very much if the members were then given a selection of dates and asked their opinions on that. As someone said earlier the redundancies had all but been met voluntarily think they had 32 voluntary! Where does bob Crow and co find fault in that. A business is trying to streamline its costs sensible in the current economic climate and protects what jobs it can during that process ! sorry but I really cant find fault in that. I would like to ask Ruidh or Chook (sorry if its spelt wrong)seeing as they are both obviously staff and I would say at least one a shop steward to be honest and tell us the shift patterns of the staff involved ! I was speaking to someone who has a relative who works on one of the passenger ferrys ! one of Serco`s reasons for all this is to streamline shift patterns seemingly and the aforementioned said that it was no wonder people were losing their jobs as the current shifts are un sustainable, his relative was off more than he worked, along the lines of 2 weeks on 2 off followed by the same then 4 weeks off ? Not bad if you can get it and sure as hell worth fighting to keep at any cost ! Im all for people fighting for their rights but this as more and more comes to light seems to be a war on Serco by Bob Crow who is leading his merry men astray imho ! The shift patterns were all negotiated with the previous employer,note the word Negotiated. There was no talk,or threats of strikes in the last 30 years of negotiation with P&O or Northlink,You have to ask yourself why now,and as I've said in a previous post , RMT members are individuals with minds of their own and could have put their x in the no box.