Proposals to resolve the Irish Ferries dispute, which threatens passenger services on the Irish Sea, are to be put to both sides today. The company has announced that it will withdraw its new £29 million Jonathan Swift fast ferry from the Dublin-Holyhead route tomorrow if the dispute is not resolved. It has also warned that up to 1,400 employees could be laid off if the dispute escalates.
Intensive discussions took place on Tuesday and most of yesterday between IBEC director Mr Turlough O'Sullivan and SIPTU regional secretary Mr Jack Nash to find a settlement formula. They met separately with members of the company's management and representatives of the 18 ships' officers at the centre of the dispute.
The company and the officers are to meet today to consider the settlement proposals. Mr O'Sullivan and Mr Nash are recommending the terms to both parties.
The dispute is over staffing levels. The ships' officers want to retain the same levels as on conventional ferries.
The ship's officers have objected to a new work schedule which requires them to increase their annual working days from 140 to 168 a year. The Labour Court recommended in May that they should accept the new work schedule in order to make the fast ferry service competitive. However, SIPTU argued that its competitors had recently improved working conditions for ship's officers.