Ferry firm cuts 450 workers

Irish Ferries is attempting to cut its costs

Irish Ferries has made 450 members of staff redundant after suspending three of its four services - two of which run between Wales and Ireland.

The company said the decision was made because of trade unions' refusal to negotiate new staffing levels and working hours.

It has cancelled its Dublin to Holyhead and Rosslare to Pembroke services, while its sailing from Rosslare to the French port of Cherbourg has also been called off.

A staff of 76 will be kept on for the upkeep and maintenance on the three ferries, which will be taken out of service indefinitely.

The company's Dublin to Holyhead cruise ferry - Ulysses - will continue to operate.

Seamen have already been balloted on strike action over the dispute.

Members of the Seamen's Union of Ireland were issued with ballot papers on Tuesday night, with voting over the next couple of days.

But any such action would be more than a week away, because under Irish law the union would have to give seven days' notice of a strike once the result of the secret vote was known.

Ferries affected Jonathan Swift, between Dublin and Holyhead Isle of Inishmore, between Rosslare and Pembroke Dock Normandy, between Rosslare and Roscoff

In a statement on Wednesday the company said it had decided to "lay-off" the 450 crew members because of the refusal of the Seamen's Union of Ireland to enter into negotiations.

Irish Ferries said it regretted its action, adding: "In deciding upon the specific action taken, Irish Ferries has been extremely conscious to ensure that the minimum degree of inconvenience and disruption would be caused to passengers and freight customers.

"[This is] consistent with the necessity to move forward and introduce cost-cutting measures as set down in various communications to representatives of the ships' officers and crew members involved."

Last Tuesday, around 600 company workers received letters saying that, unless negotiations could be advanced by 20 February, the services would be suspended.

Leave

The union has said the dispute is mainly about leave.

At present Irish Ferries staff get six weeks annual leave, but a union spokesman says the company wants to reduce it to four weeks, which is what rival ferry company Stena Line staff receive.

Members of Siptu, which mainly represents higher ranking officers, are also contesting the changes.

Irish Ferries has recently set itself the task of shedding 52 sea-going staff and saving £2.3m a year, after an investigation found it had "the highest crew ratio in the British Isles".

But it has not been able to agree with the unions, despite negotiations at the Irish Labour Court and Labour Relations Commission.