Red Funnel staff are planning to walk out in the ongoing row over pay across 12 days in July and August – including Cowes Week and the August Bank Holiday weekend.
The first strike is set to take place on 27th July – just as children break up from school for the Summer holidays – followed by strikes on 1st, 3rd, 5th, 9th, 11th, 15th, 17th, 19th, 26th and 29th August.
Each strike will last 24 hours and if they go ahead as planned, key dates in the tourism calendar will be hit including Cowes Week and the August Bank Holiday at the end of the month.
The row over pay comes after Unite members demanded a 16% pay rise in December last year, with discussions having been ongoing since Christmas time. It was announced last week that union members had voted in favour of strike action.
Red Funnel has offered 6.3% for roles within the collective bargaining unit, and 4.5% for all other roles, above many recent pay settlements within the same sector. The cross-Solent operator says that the pay claim should have been settled for the start of 2022, so whilst the business is sympathetic to today’s inflation levels, they are not relevant to this pay claim.
Unite the Union members represent 20% of Red Funnel’s workforce, with around 120 staff set to strike.
Ian Woodland, Unite regional officer, has said:
“Our members don’t want to strike but Red Funnel has left them with no choice. Red Funnel’s treatment of its workforce is the reason Cowes Week and Isle of Wight summer holiday plans will be disrupted. There is still time to end this dispute before strikes occur, but Red Funnel needs to come back with an offer that meets our members’ aspirations.”
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Fran Collins, CEO at Red Funnel, last week said:
“I am incredibly disappointed that members have voted for strike action. Our priority, as always, is to ensure that the Island remains connected and that we continue to provide the lifeline services that so many rely upon.
“We have prepared robust contingency plans to ensure essential services are maintained and to minimise disruption as far as possible. We will issue a revised timetable by Tuesday 12th July and we will contact all customer directly affected by any changes. We can confirm that customers with bookings between 5th – 19th July will not be affected by industrial action.
“We are keen to recognise and reward all colleagues, particularly during these uncertain times, however we must be realistic in terms of what the business can afford to ensure we continue to provide lifeline services for our customers, promoting the long-term success of the Island economy.”
Red Funnel is owned by the £11.5billion West Midlands Pension Fund and the £3.5billion Workplace Safety and Insurance Board of Ontario.
What a really bad day for delays on Sunday 10th, so I’m sure their robust contingency plans for industrial action won’t work at all well.
I feel sorry for the shop owners here that rely on tourism and depend entirely on a good 6 weeks in the summer to get them through the winter.
All these shop owners also have increased bills and wages to cover.
The cost of ferries is already taking it’s toll on tourism and those that need to commute.
I wonder if the bosses will take a wage reduction?
Not flipping likely!
Get rid of the lot of them. We are an Island which relies on tourism, we should not be held to ransom by greedy staff and Unions. I am sure there are many who would welcome a 6% pay rise. Lower your standards the same as the rest of us, we are all in the same boat.
Well said, Dizzydotty.
Exactly all this is going to do is make it more expensive to get off the island as they will have to put prices up to cover wages but that won’t bother them as they get staff rates for crossings. I would love a 6% pay rise
Very well said.. Sack the lot of them.. there are many people who would be delighted with the 6percent increase as a starting salary and be very greatful for the job opportunities, concession travel, pension etc. Cost of living is effecting most of the usual working people.
And where, exactly, are Red Funnel going to get the staff to replace the ones they sack?
We aren’t talking about the people who serve coffee and food here, these are trained mariners. Do you think Red Funnel cancels a crossing because there’s nobody to cook your bacon bap?
They already have problems recruiting enough of these people as it is, if they sack them then Red Funnel will end up with nobody to operate their ships at all.
The cost of living is effecting everyone on low incomes
Wightlink would like to thank the Red Funnel staff for the extra business.
How can this be legal. Red funnel are an essential life line for NHS workers and appointments. Surely if this goes ahead then Red Funnel should be fined, I’m sure this cannot be Legal
It is legal, however it certainly isn’t moral. Take the 6% and suck it up like the rest of us.
It’s legal because successive government ‘reviews’ of the Isle of Wight ferry services have failed to impose a public service requirement on them – Preferring instead to simply count the crossings, ignore the prices and tell us that there’s no problem.
Unfortunately there is no legal process by which they can impose any such requirement. Steve Ross raised precisely this issue when the railways were privatised.
Its legal and effective because of all those damned Londoners that move here and block the fixed link
Whilst I cannot wholly sympathise with the staff striking – the rise they are demanding does (outwardly at least) seem a bit excessive. The Management at Red Funnel have treated their employees abominably in the recent past.
Who on Earth came up with a two-tier system for pay increases? That, if nothing else was asking for trouble!
The answer to that is the Union
There is no public service obligation on force for either Red Funnel or weighting unlike other islands.
Let them strike we have put up with a shoddy service for to long.
See how long the staff last on strike with no money coming in.
If anybody has to get over to the mainland urgently during the strike let me know
i have got a new motor on my boat. Insurance would be recommended
Sorry that should have read wightlink
Fixed link only getting more likely.
Well done go out that…not
Frigging hell they should be grateful they have been offered a payrise!!!
Some haven’t been offered anything, just greed!!!
We are all currently in the same boat, all working hard for next to nothing, what makes you think going on strike is going to help!!
Be grateful you have a job as many lost theirs during covid!!!
6%? Try 0% like most of us in the private sector working for smaller firms!
Adjust your expectations seems to be the phrase.
Ultimately it’s all the ‘little people’ that bear the burden of everyone else’s pay rises!
Lots of red funnel employees reading the comment section given all the dislikes.
Well, there you go folks, theres a lot of people that dislike you too.
where’s ‘Dancing Jim’ when you need him ?
Always blame the workers, never the greedy fat-cat profiteering companies that refuse to give workers a decent living for working unsocial hours in all weathers.
Sadly it reflects the apathetic attitude of far too many in this country when you read comments such as “suck it up” or “I’d be happy with 6%” Most would be happy with 6%, if inflation was 3%! This country has lost it’s fight and employers will continue to exploit that.
Everyone knows 16% will never happen, they know they won’t get it but you have to go in high.
And finally, of course they are going to threaten strikes during the busiest times, there’s no point otherwise!!
Its the public that have to pay for their wage, if they don’t want the job, get the navy in until new staff are recruited…
I’m sure they do want the job, they’re simply fighting for a decent living which they have every right to do. But what you’re saying is, if you don’t get a reasonable pay offer you should just leave your job, whatever line of work you’re in? I’d be looking for a new job every year then!
As for getting the navy in.. Are you actually serious?
I’m sorry but my sympathy goes to all the people who use the ferries as they will be paying for the workers pay through increased fares. The fat-cat profiteering company will remain the same.
Going on strike = Being over paid. One way avoiding the next tax break, but don’t tell the tax man. Sick to the teeth of all of you.
We’re the boiled frogs. There was a time getting off the island was as easy as rocking up to any of the ferry ports and buying a ticket. Now it’s like organising the D-Day landings. And when you do have a ferry booked roll a dice as to if it’ll even turn up.
sack them all, be grateful for a job you won’t have one long much longer or accept a 6%
We are all struggling with the cost of living, would all love a pay rise that is inline with inflation – but that is damn greedy!
This will put the cost of travel up, then people will stop using red funnel and they will making staff redundant. I say take what you have been offered , keep your jobs and don’t be so damn greedy! A lower pay is better than no pay!
Wight Link are going to milk this for what they can, I wanted to book a ferry from Yarmouth to Lymington so I could stay with my elderly mum in Burly new forest.
I wanted to stay with mum for a week, however, the outward journey was £124.0 and the return journey was £144.0….I’ve changed my plans now and I will stay with my mum in October when it’s a little cheaper..
I’ve always been against a fixed link, now I’m having second thoughts..
Get the really early morning crossing about £30.Never book a return
Return from Portsmouth at 23.59 is the same price.
With Red funnel if you need a daytime crossing just get a day return,with a voucher £43 and don’t use the return part.
Shit service= shit pay.
As An Islander what I have never understood is why there is different prices to make the same journey.
If I take a bus from Ryde to Newport the price is the same at any time of the day.
Why is this not the the same with the ferries.
Bet they get paid more than I do, and work less hours as well.some people are just never satisfied.
Always off sick anyway so not much difference wether they are striking or not but definitely need to accept a sensible pay offer not the outrageous one they are after , will only push fares up higher , they’ll price the tourist out , the prices are obscene enough already .
Unfortunately the painted narrative you are currently given is 6.3%…. This was forced upon RF as they had no choice as the 4.5% offered meant staff were below the £9.50 minimum wage threshold from april… The 6.3% is an increase on thier £9.09 wage from 2021 putting them on £9.63… Not so greedy looking when the truth is posted
Makes me laugh this type of comment they take the job knowing what the pay rate is then moan about it , look for another job then
That’s the point, a lot signed a contract that was above minimum wage however year on year the gap has got closer to the minimum…whilst the directors hand themselve hefty bonuses, The fact they haven’t left is a credit to the business as its clear they enjoy thier job however struggling to survive doing it…
Just to make things clear to the hard of thinking:
Red Funnel can’t “sack the lot of them” as they already have severe staffing problems and will not be able to replace them. There’s also the little issue that it’s illegal to sack a striking worker. They can be replaced, but that requires Red Funnel to have someone to replace them with and, as they can’t even fill their current vacancies, that’s a non starter.
Before Brexit, RF would have had easy access to E European mariners, so this is definitely a plus side to Brexit and it’s promise of better pay for British workers.
Guess the Daily Mail brigade won’t see it like that, however.
The union only has 20% membership of the total staff. No record of how many of them actually voted to strike so really, it does seem the minority of staff who are causing the issues.
As the numbers are small, then don’t sack the lot of them, just replace those who are causing the issues. They obviously shouldn’t be working in a service industry.
It can be appreciated that staff may be hard to replace currently but if Red Funnel aren’t able to function effectively then I guess the shareholders would eventually pull the plug and let the whole lot sink.
West Cowes to Southampton Red Jet at 6:05, 7:15, 8:25, 9:35, 16:45, 17:55, 19:05 cancelled due to limited availability of crew.
Due to availability of crew we have cancellations to our Red Jet service tomorrow (12/07).
Even when they aren’t on strike the crew do their best to disrupt services. Sack the lot of them and start again.
However the crew are not part of the bargaining unit as they belong to nautilus not unite…. Unfortunately for the lower paid workers the higher paid have caused public upset by having sickness… Genuine or not the fault still lies with poor management, who have zero contingency when this occurs
Trust our reliable Island Echo to point out it is owned by a pension fund and an American insurance board. Only interested in profits for shareholders. To staff, be grateful you have a job, and be grateful for a 6.3% pay rise. As for a 16% pay rise, you’re like bidders in BBC1s The Bidding Room. They come in an unrealistic value, then no-one wants to buy it, so they leave empty handed with their item.
Red funnel staff have been busy hitting the thumbs down button get on with some work
£9 an hour to do shift work,nights bank holidays..that is an insult
A private company providing a public service putting profit above anything else.
Good luck to them
£9 an hour to wave a car onto a boat sounds good to me it’s not rocket science is it and I’m sure night shift and bank holidays isn’t £9 an hour
They should all be sacked now and give their jobs to people that wants employment . This strike will only push further for a tunnel then Red funnel will not need staff , they will cut their own throats for greed . This will also push up ferry cost at a time when we do not need it
The cost of living crisis won’t be around forever but If everyone keeps striking for more pay and everyone keeps having these wage rises the prices of food, fuel,gas, electric won’t fall again which will create bigger problems down the road. The more prices go up the more people won’t use the services cause they can’t afford them.
“To strike” needs to go to a vote by the members of the union so the statement “most of our members didn’t want this” is absolute b*ll***t.
This tiny piece of water Is the most expensive stretch of water in the world to cross. A fixed link is the only solution to this
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