A protest in support of workers embroiled in a dispute with Irish Ferries over the outsourcing of jobs took place today at Pembroke Dock in Wales.
Around 40 members of several trade unions in Wales gathered at the Irish Ferries terminal in Pembroke Dock where crew members have been barricaded on board the Isle of Inishmore vessel for nine-days.
As the rally took place, four of the protesters on the ship emerged on the deck and unveiled a banner with the message SOS. Officials from the International Transport Workers Federation also handed a letter of protest to the dock authorities in Pembroke.
Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise with responsibility for labour affairs, said a small level of progress had been made with the company removing security people off the ferries.
"There are quite complex issues that arise here, unfortunately the background has soured relations to such an extent it is very difficult to move it on.
"The manner in which management tried to implement their policy was extraordinarily unhelpful and it makes the job of the Labour Relations Commission and the National Implementation Body and indeed the unions representatives much more difficult than it might otherwise have been," the minister told RTÉ Radio.
Nick Ainger, a Labour MP in Wales, attended the protest and appealed to Irish Ferries management to begin meaningful talks to resolve the dispute immediately. He said the dispute and closure of the port was having a serious financial impact on the south Wales economy.
The dispute over the outsourcing of jobs at the company has led Irish Ferries workers to refuse to sail on the Isle of Inishmore and the Ulysses, which are stranded in Wales. The Jonathan Swift ferry is also still stranded in Dublin as port workers threaten to block any Irish Ferries vessel from docking.
Despite intensive efforts the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) has so far failed to come up with a peace formula in the dispute. A rally in support of the Ulysses crew, who are on the ship in Holyhead port, is being organisation for Wednesday.
Rallies in support of Irish Ferries workers are being held by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) next Friday in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Rosslare Harbour, Athlone, Sligo and Waterford. Last night, shore staff at Irish Ferries voted in favour of industrial action in support of ships officers embroiled in a long-running dispute at the company.
Clerical staff, who are members of the union SIPTU, voted by three to one for industrial action to support the workers which will be invoked if the industrial situation deteriorates. The workers have vowed not to obstruct new services to relieve the build-up of trucks at ports.
With trucks sitting in ports for up to 24 hours awaiting transport, shipping agent Victor Treacy International has chartered a freight ferry to carry lorries to France.
The Brittany Ferries vessel will be bringing freight between Cork and Cherbourg in a bid to alleviate frustration amongst many Irish exporters at their busiest time of year.