News / Serco sets sail into choppy waters
THE NEW managing director of Serco NorthLink Ferries, Stuart Garrett, has assured staff and customers that it was “business as usual” at the lifeline ferry operator, despite claims that the company was on a potential collision course with the unions.
Serco took over the service to the northern isles from NorthLink Ferries at 3pm on Thursday afternoon.
The company first had to face a legal challenge from rival bidder Streamline and is now embroiled in a row with the RMT union over pension rights, potential job cuts as well as working time arrangements.
On Thursday, Mr Garrett was keen to send out a message of confidence when he met with staff and passengers at the Aberdeen ferry terminal.
The RMT’s shipping organiser for Scotland, Mike Hogg, said the union was seeking high level talks with the company in a bid to avert strike action.
He said Serco had already climbed down on a number of issues, including initial demands that NorthLink staff should be available to work on other Serco operated ships.
Mr Hogg said: “As far as we are concerned there are a number of outstanding issues, such as zero hour contracts, potential job losses and the manning levels which could result in reduced services. These are all unacceptable issues as far as the RMT union is concerned.
“We are keen to find a solution to those issues and need to meet Serco on a national level. We still don’t have a date for that meeting.
“We remain on this potential collision course. The choice is Serco’s. We either find a solution acceptable to Serco and the RMT, or it is full steam ahead on the collision course.”
Mr Garrett said he was confident that now the company was the service provider it would be easier for them to consult with staff and the unions.
“It is important to say that at this stage our plans involving staff are not set in stone. We have no definite plan as to what we intend to do.
“What we will be doing is looking at the business now that we have the contract, and we will then assess over a period of time how we deliver our plans,” he said.
He added that zero hour contracts gave the company flexibility but also presented an opportunity for new staff to come onboard, “because it is regularly used for temporary personnel to come into the industry”.
“It is quite clear to me that something is not right when you have ships sailing with large numbers of crew and small number of customers.
“We have safety requirements we have to meet, and the challenge for me and my team is to make sure that we match what we provide on board with what is required to operate the service safely,” he said.
He added that for the remaining months of 2012 customers would notice very few changes on board the ships other than a few “exciting improvements being announced over the coming months”.
By the start of 2013 passengers can expect additional seating and new fully reclining seats, a refreshed catering service – including a new café bar and restaurant – and the introduction of onboard entertainment as well as enhanced WiFi access.
All bookings and passenger enquiries should continue to be directed to the NorthLink Ferries website www.northlinkferries.co.uk or by phone to 0845 6000 449.
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