"WE cannot afford to take our eye off the ball" – That's the message from shipping unions defending the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company.
RMT and Nautilus will hold a public meeting next week to discuss the need for enforceable employment protection measures to cover all workers in the Isle of Man whose jobs are under threat.
It will be attended by Bob Crow, the RMT general secretary, Mark Dickinson, Nautilus general secretary, Steve Todd, RMT national secretary and Angela Moffatt, the president of the Isle of Man TUC.
Bob Crowe said: "Despite our recent success in driving the super-exploiters from Mezeron off some of their routes there remains a continuing threat to the Isle of Man Steam Packet and the many Island jobs that it supports and this public meeting is all about keeping the pressure on.
"We simply cannot afford to take our eye off the ball for one minute and we are demanding legislative protection for the pay, pensions and conditions of our Steam Packet members - similar to the TUPE rules that apply in the UK - to assist us in protecting the skilled, local maritime jobs that are an important element of the Isle of Man economy.
"These safeguards should apply to all workers on the Isle of Man, many of whom are facing the threat of privatisation.
"The Steam Packet needs continuing political support to guarantee this essential service a safe and secure future. We are taking that campaigning message back in to the heart of the local community."
The public meeting will take place on Tuesday, April 5, at The Empress Hotel in Douglas at 7.30pm.
