Mick Cash
Ahead of Welsh seafarer protest tomorrow RMT reacts with alarm at new pay abuse on Cyprus registered freighter
WELSH SEAFARERS union RMT today reacted with alarm at another case of seafarer pay abuse on a Cyprus registered freighter working on a domestic route, uncovered following an inspection of the ship requested by the Union.
It comes the day before an RMT Save Our Seafarers protest which will take place on Thursday 9th January 2020 from 1600 outside the National Assembly for Wales (Senedd), Cardiff Bay, Cardiff, CF99 1NA.
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said:
“The new decade starts with the latest example of the shipping industry’s long standing exploitation of foreign seafarers between ports in Wales, England and Northern Ireland.
“Paying seafarers $2.12 per hour for the first eight hours of work is not only scandalous, it damages the economy of Wales and the UK.
“My union is lobbying the Senedd in Cardiff tomorrow for pro-seafarer actions and we will be highlighting the appalling case of the MV Maris.
“It is also very troubling to see that this ship of shame is on the Cyprus maritime register, a flag of convenience that attracts shipowners by holding crew wages down to levels akin to modern slavery.
“We’re looking forward to working with the Government of Wales to stamp out this appalling abuse of seafarers’ rights which undermines good maritime employers and excludes Welsh seafarers from work in the maritime transport sector.
