Letters / Where are the ferry jobs advertised?
I have followed the ferry fiasco very closely because our business in Yell has been affected. I was therefore pleased when a friend in Yell told me he is interested in becoming a permanent ferry man.
However, he could not find anywhere to apply. I contacted the admin team at Sella Ness, on his behalf, and was told by e-mail: “Any permanent posts are advertised through myjobscotland.com.”
When I went to that website – surprise, surprise – there are no jobs advertised.
When I went back and expressed my surprise, I was told: “Any deckhand jobs that become available will be advertised on myjobscotland. If he has the relevant certificates and would like to do relief work in the meantime then please get back in touch.”
Maggie Sandison was quoted recently, defending the staffing pressures on the ferries, “which are predominantly caused by an aging workforce leading to more staff retiring than joining the service”.
Sorry, but I see no effort to attract and train excellent local staff. My understanding is that contractors are being employed, at rates higher than permanent staff, to try to plug the gaps.
My friend would be a superb addition to the team, but I get the feeling that “team” is not understood at Sella Ness.
Alan Skinner
The Shetland Gallery
Sellafirth
Yell
See also:
Council proposals to make employment on ferries more attractive
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