Live Decisions of Congress 2024

Amended Motion 28

 Protecting Public Sector Ferry Services

“That this Congress welcomes the Scottish Government’s commitment to explore direct award of the £1bn Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract to the incumbent public sector operator, CalMac Ferries.

‘‘Congress is concerned that the option of direct award of the Northern Isles Ferry Services contract operated by Serco has been ruled out by the Transport Minister, Fiona Hyslop, MSP despite the existence of a break clause in the current contract in 2025.

‘‘Congress notes that Serco has a guaranteed profit margin in the NIFS contracts and that since 2012, Serco has received over £700m in public subsidy to operate four routes. Sailings and staffing levels have been reduced and staff on the two freighters and on auxiliary cleaning and security contracts remain outside the collective bargaining agreement with RMT.

‘‘Congress continues to support direct award of all public ferry contracts to subsidiaries of Scotland’s public sector company David MacBrayne. Over £580m has been committed by the Scottish Government to procure new ferries for the CHFS routes by 2026, and the 2024-25 budget for ferries and harbour investment was cut by £64.5m.

Congress believes Scotland’s publicly owned ferry services must be supplied by a publicly owned manufacturing supply chain with public investment to onshore jobs.”

‘‘Congress commits to campaign for direct award and urges the Scottish Government to:

• Direct award the small vessels replacement programme to publicly owned Ferguson Marine and investment to modernise the yard.
• Directly award CHFS3 contract, starting 1^st October 2024 to CalMac Ferries without delay, as advised by the RMT, Nautilus and other CalMac Unions.
• Use the break clause to end Serco’s NIFS contract and to directly award it to David MacBrayne.
• End expensive contracts with private legal advisers over public ferry procurement; and
• Reform CalMac, CMAL and Transport Scotland to provide a greater say for workers and passengers, as part of the People’s CalMac public ferry company advocated by the RMT.’’

Mover: National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers

Seconder: GMB Scotland