Trade union representatives last night mounted a protest at Ringaskiddy Ferry Terminal in Cork Harbour to campaign for improved rates of pay for ferry workers on ships sailing from Irish and British ports.
Tony Ayton of the International Transport Workers' Federation said the protest was to highlight the poor rates of pay being given to approximately 60 eastern European workers, who make up 80 per cent of the crew of Swansea Cork Ferries's MV Superferry.
Mr Ayton said rates of pay for eastern European crew on board the ship amounted to just €4 an hour and this was unacceptable and in breach of Irish and UK minimum wage legislation.
He said the industry was being threatened by the use of poorly-paid eastern European workers and the union had written to Irish MEPs seeking their support for an EU directive to require ferry companies to provide standard pay and conditions.
However, a Swansea Cork Ferries spokesman strongly rejected any suggestion that the company was in breach of its legal obligations over working conditions and pay on board the MV Superferry. The spokesman said that although UK and Irish minimum wage rates do not apply on board ship, "the least paid members of our crew are paid the UK minimum wage of £4.85 or approximately €7 an hour".
"In every single respect, ITF's claims are incorrect and appear to be based on information which is several years out of date," said the spokesman, accusing the union of deliberate and sustained misrepresentation of pay and conditions on the ship.
However, Mr Ayton stood over his claims and said the figures were up to date and had been obtained from serving crew.
The figures were calculated on the basis of pay per hours worked, which in some cases was as high as 80 hours a week, he said.The union is planning a further protest in Ringaskiddy in the coming weeks.