A proposal by Stena Line to introduce a European crew with a lower pay rate on their Dublin to Holyhead route may trigger industrial action on the Irish Sea.
The company plans to move the Stena Seatrader freight ferry from its existing route, Killingholme to Hook of Holland, to the Dublin to Holyhead route in July.
There are already two Stena ships on the same route, the Stena Adventurer and Stena Explorer and there is an existing port agreement with the British National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) covering pay there.
However, up to 20 deck and engine crew on the Stena Seatrader, mainly from Poland, will be paid a lower rate than their colleagues when they move to the route. They are employed by Northern Marine Management, a ship operating company, which is a subsidiary of Stena.
The RMT fears that the introduction of the lower paid workers could undermine British and Irish jobs on the Irish Sea. Steve Todd, RMT national secretary, said the Irish Sea has become the latest battleground in the struggle to stop shipowners replacing organised crews with low-cost labour. "Stena are now breaking their pledge that they will not join the 'race to the bottom' in seafarers' pay," he said.
"The nationality of the seafarers aboard the vessel is irrelevant, but they must be paid the rate for the job agreed between the company and the union. 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."
A spokesman for Stena Line said the European crew on the Stena Seatrader are paid European ship management crew rates by Northern Marine Management, which is a reputable agent. "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 will continue to apply," he said.
He added that a six-month review of the operation of the Stena Seatrader would be carried out by Stena in consultation with the RMT.
