Further Strike Dates Announced For Rathlin Island Ferry Workers

Unite the union has called on the Department for Infrastructure to intervene and ensure workers on the ferry service between Ballycastle and Rathlin Island receive a cost of living pay increase and avoid further disruption to residents and economy of Northern Ireland's largest island.

The call came after workers took a first day of strike action on Thursday, 05 January, after no increased offer was made by the ferry operator. This was despite workers having suspended planned strike action in order to allow for room for successful negotiations. The original action was scheduled to commence on Tuesday, 03 January, with strike dates falling on all Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays throughout the month of January.

The strike follows a ballot of ferry workers at the end of 2022 which returned a 85 percent mandate in pursuit a cost of living pay increase.

Despite this ballot, and the subsequent suspension of planned strike action, management at the outsourced ferry service has refused to move on the workers' pay claim – which comes after a three year pay freeze.

With the latest twelve month retail price inflation standing at 14.0%, another year's pay freeze would amount to a real-terms pay cut of more than a one-seventh of their wage.

Taken together with the latest Office of Budget Responsibility estimates which forecast retail inflation to stay above 10 percent in 2023, workers would need a pay increase of at least 25% to stay ahead of rising prices over the two year period.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham expressed her support for the workers:

She said: "It's a scandal that the Rathlin Island Ferry workforce has not had an extra penny on their pay for three years. Their employers have taken them for granted for too long.

"In the midst of a crippling living costs crisis, our members have been left with no alternative but take strike action – they simply can’t allow their pay to fall behind for another year.

"Unite will support these workers for as long as it takes to achieve fair pay so their employer must move quickly to put a decent offer on the table."