Those travelling across the Solent with Red Funnel over the coming weeks are being reminded of the revised timetable that comes into force tomorrow (Wednesday) as a result of staff going on strike.
In just a few hours’ time, around 20% of Red Funnel’s workforce will walk out in a row over pay resulting in major disruption to cross-Solent travel at what is the busiest time of the year.
The first strike is being held tomorrow (Wednesday 27th July 2022) with further strikes planned for 1st, 3rd, 5th, 9th, 11th, 15th, 17th, 19th, 23rd, 26th and 29th August.
Industrial action only affects the vehicle ferry service from East Cowes to Southampton, with Red Jet services to and from West Cowes unaffected.
Fran Collins, Chief Executive at Red Funnel, has said:
“It is incredibly disappointing that despite our ongoing conversations with Unite, and our desire to reward teams with a fair and reasonable pay increase, we are preparing for strike action tomorrow.
“Our priority is continuing to provide a lifeline service and ensure the Isle of Wight remains connected. This includes the transportation of fuel, medical supplies and food, and ensuring passengers can travel for work, education and essential medical appointments.
“We ask for kindness toward our dedicated teams at work during strike days, who are ensuring that customers can keep sailing under challenging circumstances. We have introduced robust contingency plans including the redeployment of colleagues across the business into key roles.
Article continues below this advertisement “We continue to engage with Unite in an effort to resolve this dispute as soon as possible.”
Red Funnel tried to initiate pay negotiations in October 2021 so that they would be able to implement 2022’s salary uplift on 1st January 2022. Unite the Union did not present its initial 16% pay claim until December 2021. In response to the initial pay claim and subsequent negotiations, Red Funnel has made a final offer of a 6.3% increase in pay for all employees some roles. For other roles, Red Funnel has offered 4.5%.
Red Funnel customer services teams are available to help passengers with questions about their travel arrangements – [email protected].
I am neither for or against the strike plans as, in all these types of disputes, there is blame and counter blame on both sides. So in the interests of us, the fare paying customers to have full transparency, perhaps the management of Red Funnel should publish the hourly rates of pay for all the different job roles and then publish all the management positions hourly rates of pay. Also how about letting us know how much the share holders are raking in annually. Only then can we really be able to judge if one side or the other is right or wrong or if they should have their heads banged together and made to come to a compromise.
Totally agree
There is going to be a feeding frenzy as employees who have been downtrodden for the last 12 years realise that they now have real power. “If you don’t like it, leave” no longer works as there is nobody to replace them with, least of all cheap Eastern European workers.
Looks like Brexit is actually going to deliver on one of its promises. Higher wages for British workers.
THE MOST BEST AND TRUE WORDS THAT I HAVE READ ON THIS COMMENTS PAGE EVER,
WELL SAID SIR.
Can I also remind people there is a train strike as well, if you’re coming – not that you’d want to – to the mainland.
Clearly no intention to get round the table very often looking at that number of dates given for the whole of August! Still, as with all service companies, not a lot of thought for the fare paying customers or tourists the Island has a lot of dependency on