THE OWNER of a west Cork island ferry vowed to run the service as normal today despite planned strike action by its four crew members.
The Cape Clear ferry, Naomh Ciarán II, was due to go out of service today as crew members conduct strike action over pay cuts. But owner Ciarán O’Driscoll said there would be no disruption to mainland passengers or islanders as he planned to man the ferry himself, together with his wife and son.
All three are “fully qualified to run it”, said Mr O’Driscoll.
The Naomh Ciarán II operates between Cape Clear and Baltimore from 8.30am to 7pm each day. Siptu served notice of the one-day strike last week.
The crew are protesting salary cuts from 22 per cent for deckhands to 27 per cent for the ship’s master.
Trade union Siptu claim the owner wants to reduce wages in line with falling levels in the cost of living. Branch organiser Eddie Mullins said: “The company is saying that because the cost of living is going down, that it is justified in reducing the crew’s wages. That is ridiculous.
Mr O’Driscoll said the wage cut was needed because the ferry’s income was “being raped by an aggressive competitor”.
“This is the third season in a row that this instance of cherry-picking is going on. A competitor ferry leaves five minutes before our ferry, taking most of the business with it,” Mr O’Driscoll said.
The skipper of the rival ferry is the son of a Naomh Ciarán II crew member, Mr O’Driscoll said. The company suffered huge losses as a result of the alleged early departures, with profits amounting to just €50 per day “on the worst days”, said Mr O’Driscoll.
Siptu says the deductions have already been made from pay packets, in breach of legislation.
Islanders are supportive of the striking workers, say Siptu.