Pay row woman stays on board ship

Ms Orge has refused to leave the Irish Ferries vessel

A beauty therapist on an Irish Sea ferry is refusing to disembark in protest after her contract was cancelled in a row over low pay.

Salvacion Orge, from the Philippines, was employed by an agency on the Isle of Inishmore, which sails between Pembroke Dock, west Wales and Rosslare.

She has stayed on board since Thursday morning and could remain there until Tuesday when talks are due to resume.

Irish Ferries said the service was continuing to operate normally.

Ms Orge began work on the ferry on Wednesday.

But her contract was cancelled following queries from Irish TV company RTÉ about her wages and working conditions.

It's her decision to stay on board and that's fine by us Tony Kelly, Irish Ferries

Irish trade union Siptu claims Ms Orge was being paid just over one euro an hour (around 75p) to work as a beauty therapist on board the Isle of Inishmore, which sails between Pembroke Dock and Rosslare Harbour.

Siptu has made Ms Orge a union member and has taken up her case.

She has since refused to leave the ferry, which makes the three hour 45 minute journey across the Irish Sea four times a day.

Normal service

Tony Kelly, Marketing Director of Irish Ferries, confirmed Ms Orge remained on board the ship adding that she could stay there for several days.

Talks between the company and unions have so far failed to end the dispute.

Mr Kelly told the BBC Wales news website: "A meeting was held on Friday between Irish Ferries and Siptu to discuss this lady's situation.

"That will be followed up early next week and she will stay on board until then.

"It's her decision to stay on board and that's fine by us.

"The ferry service is operating normally."

Mr Kelly added that Ms Orge had been recruited to work on the ship by an agency and was not an employee of Irish Ferries.

'Regrets trouble'

Tony Ayton, an inspector from union body the International Transport Workers' Federation, said talks would start again on Tuesday.

He said the union was trying to find a way for her to keep her job but on better wages.

"She will stay on board but will not be working," Mr Ayton said.

"She can stay on the ship but she can also get off at Pembroke or Rosslare without worrying that the doors will be locked behind her."

He added: "She regrets all the trouble but we said that it isn't her fault.

"She's got three children to support and she didn't come 10,000 miles other than to get a decent amount of money."