SIPTU say that Mr O’Driscoll refused an invitation made by SIPTU Branch Organiser Eddie Mullins on the quayside to engage in negotiations to resolve the dispute. He said he would deal directly with employees on the issues and had other concerns he intended raising with them. He didn't say what these other concerns were.
He added that he intended holding a disciplinary hearing on the island at 8.30pm tomorrow over an unofficial one day strike by crew members earlier this week. He refused to facilitate Mr O’Driscoll in representing the men at the hearing. As a result the union has now advised them not to attend.
Mr Mullins has written to the Labour Relations Commission seeking its intervention in the dispute. He has also written to Eamon O Cuiv, the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, to express SIPTU’s concerns that the Ferry is receiving subsidies totalling over €1.2 million in state subsidies while refusing to recognise unions or engage in normal industrial relations procedures.
Meanwhile the islanders returned home on the Cailin Oir Ferry operated by Comharcumann Chleir Teo, which provides an alternative, unsubsidised service.
The official one day strike by SIPTU members on the Cape Clear Ferry, Naomh Ciaran II, went ahead yesterday (June 4th) and was supported by around 60 local people, many of whom travelled over from the island to participate in the protest at the quayside in Baltimore. The dispute is over a unilateral decision by the Ferry’s owner, Ciaran O’Driscoll, to lay off the Master, reducing pay by between 22% and 27% and make the crew work four weeks unpaid this summer, claim SIPTU.
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