Steam Packet Officers Vote to Strike

Officers working for the Steam Packet have voted in favour of strike action with their union due to announce plans shortly.

Nautilus International, the union representing officers at Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, have released the results of their ballot for industrial action.

The results are as follows:

• 81% voted yes to strike action
• 89% voted yes to action short of strike
• Turnout was 77%.

Members were balloted for industrial action following what the union says is the company’s ‘repeated threats of fire and rehire if they did not accept fundamental changes to contractual terms and conditions’.

The result of the ballot means disruption to Steam Packet services is likely.

Responding to the result, Nautilus Senior National Secretary Garry Elliot said: ‘The result of this ballot is a clear indication of our members’ frustrations at the unreasonable actions of the company, threatening fire and rehire and refusing independent arbitration.

‘Our members are critical to this lifeline service and industrial action is a last resort, members are disappointed that the employer has given them no other choice. We urge Steam Packet to take this ballot result as a point to reflect on their threat of fire and rehire, engage in meaningful negotiations to avoid disruption or commit to independent collective arbitration.’