Irish Ferries confirmed today that they are considering ceasing operations temporarily on three of their four passenger ferries. These are the Jonathan Swift, the Isle of Inishmore and the Normandy.
In a letter received by employees today, it was stated that 600 sea-going employees would be temporarily laid off without pay as a result of the implementation. Implementation date for lay-offs will be announced seperately by the company to take place after 20 February, probably by 27 February.
The dispute centres on efforts by Irish Ferries to implement cost-cutting measures in the company to 'make it more competitive'.
Talks in the Labour Court between Irish Ferries and the two trade unions involved in the dispute, SIPTU and the SUI (Seamen's Union of Ireland), broke up on January 15 with the recommendation that both unions hold joint negotiations with the company.
This, however, was prevented from proceeding after the company said the Seamen's Union of Ireland refused to sit down to joint negotiations with SIPTU.
A spokesperson for SIPTU, which represents 300 workers at Irish Ferries, said the union is not prepared to engage in negotiations seperately from the Seamen's Union of Ireland, because 'both unions have the same workers doing the same job and an agreement can't be implemented until both sides agree'.
Irish Ferries claims that all efforts to date have been unsuccessful as 'the trade Unions, particularly, the SUI refuse to jointly negotiate with SIPTU'.
