Seafarers to lobby Parliament

Tuesday, 8 March 2005 8:30 AM

Seafaring members of the RMT union are to lobby Parliament tomorrow, calling for action on the decline of jobs in the marine industry.

It wants a link between the tonnage-tax concession and the employment of UK seafarers, and an end to shipowners' exemption from the Race Relations Act. The RMT claims this exemption allows shipowners to pay exploitative rates of pay to foreign workers.

Bob Crow, RMT general secretary, said: "Shipowners have been given well over £61 million in taxpayers' money since the tonnage tax was introduced, and that has attracted vessels back to the flag.

"But despite the handouts they are still getting away with exploiting cheap labour and dumping UK ratings. That is a disgrace, and it is made even easier by the continuing exemption of shipowners from the 1976 Race Relations Act."

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