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Action lifted on Irish ferries in France
Industrial action has been lifted in the Cherbourg ferry port in France with an ultimatum from unions to ferry companies Irish Ferries and Celtic Link Ferries.
The dispute threatened to seriously disrupt hundreds of holiday-makers destined for Ireland from France.
The Irish Ferries MV Normandy was stopped from unloading cargo at the French port this morning by dock workers refusing to accept freight from vessels owned by firms they believe are not affording crew members their entitlements.
The workers are members of CGT, a French affiliate of the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), who are conducting a week of action across northern Europe.
Passengers were allowed to disembark with their vehicles this morning but because the cargo was not unloaded the vessel remained berthed. Passengers booked on the 18.00 were unable to board pending the outcome of talks which began this afternoon.
In a statement this evening, the ITF said it had suspended its action and gave Irish Ferries and Celtic Link Ferries managements until June 15 th to respond to its proposals for a collective agreement on ships operated by them between Ireland and France. The mv Normandy , which has stranded, was expected to leave for Rosslare by 7.30pm.
The MV Diplomat vessel, operating for Celtic Link Ferries was due to dock at the same berth but will be unable to do so until the until the Normandy departs.
Siptu members today held a demonstration in Dublin port at the entrance to the Celtic Link's offices.
The ITF co-ordinator for Ireland and the UK, Norrie McVicar, handed in a letter to the company saying it had resisted the federation's efforts over the last two years to engage in dialogue to address workers' concerns.
The ITF was in conflict with Celtic Link Ferries last March when the Co Wexford-based chartered vessel Celtic Mist was detained by authorities in Southampton. It was subsequently denied a licence by the French and UK authorities because it was not seaworthy.
Since the incident, Mr McVicar has received complaints from the crew of the Celtic Link vessels, the Celtic Star , operating between Dublin and Liverpool; and the Diplomat .
"On the Celtic Star we have recorded that qualified adult seafarers are being paid as little as E2.80 per hour, whilst a seafarer on board the MV Diplomat had a serious injury to her hand without receiving proper treatment."
Ferries on the Irish Sea are among the targets of the week-long campaign which will see ITF investigators board vessels flying a national flag and flag-of-convenience vessels, which are usually registered in countries with lax regulations.
The operation will include checking conditions, recovering owed wages, and seeking to establish agreements to protect workers.
Participating countries are: Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden, the UK, and Norway.
The dispute threatened to seriously disrupt hundreds of holiday-makers destined for Ireland from France.
The Irish Ferries MV Normandy was stopped from unloading cargo at the French port this morning by dock workers refusing to accept freight from vessels owned by firms they believe are not affording crew members their entitlements.
The workers are members of CGT, a French affiliate of the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), who are conducting a week of action across northern Europe.
Passengers were allowed to disembark with their vehicles this morning but because the cargo was not unloaded the vessel remained berthed. Passengers booked on the 18.00 were unable to board pending the outcome of talks which began this afternoon.
In a statement this evening, the ITF said it had suspended its action and gave Irish Ferries and Celtic Link Ferries managements until June 15 th to respond to its proposals for a collective agreement on ships operated by them between Ireland and France. The mv Normandy , which has stranded, was expected to leave for Rosslare by 7.30pm.
The MV Diplomat vessel, operating for Celtic Link Ferries was due to dock at the same berth but will be unable to do so until the until the Normandy departs.
Siptu members today held a demonstration in Dublin port at the entrance to the Celtic Link's offices.
The ITF co-ordinator for Ireland and the UK, Norrie McVicar, handed in a letter to the company saying it had resisted the federation's efforts over the last two years to engage in dialogue to address workers' concerns.
The ITF was in conflict with Celtic Link Ferries last March when the Co Wexford-based chartered vessel Celtic Mist was detained by authorities in Southampton. It was subsequently denied a licence by the French and UK authorities because it was not seaworthy.
Since the incident, Mr McVicar has received complaints from the crew of the Celtic Link vessels, the Celtic Star , operating between Dublin and Liverpool; and the Diplomat .
"On the Celtic Star we have recorded that qualified adult seafarers are being paid as little as E2.80 per hour, whilst a seafarer on board the MV Diplomat had a serious injury to her hand without receiving proper treatment."
Ferries on the Irish Sea are among the targets of the week-long campaign which will see ITF investigators board vessels flying a national flag and flag-of-convenience vessels, which are usually registered in countries with lax regulations.
The operation will include checking conditions, recovering owed wages, and seeking to establish agreements to protect workers.
Participating countries are: Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden, the UK, and Norway.
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