Breaking up lifeline ferry services would be damaging warn unions

Posted by: Robert Cotton | Last Updated: 11.10.2011

Union chiefs are to warn a Scottish Government minister it would be a "political suicide mission" for lifeline ferry services to be broken up.

Leaders of the RMT union are meeting transport minister Keith Brown to express their fears that operators will be able to cherry-pick more lucrative services as part of a tendering process.

The union is concerned that some routes that are currently part of the Clyde and Hebrides network may be put out to tender separately.

RMT chiefs fear that if the more profitable services, such as Ardrossan to Brodick and Wemyss Bay to Rothesay, are cherry-picked, other services in the network may suffer.

Union general secretary Bob Crow said:

"RMT has held a series of well-attended meetings in the areas likely to be affected by the Scottish Ferries Review and the message that has come back loud and clear from that extensive consultation is that the public do not want their lifeline services broken apart and the lucrative routes flogged off at the expense of the rest.

"Any Scottish politician who embarked on such a programme would be on a political suicide mission."

RMT national secretary Steve Todd said the union would be taking a "very clear message" to Mr Brown that "lifeline ferries service must not fall victim to a dash for fragmentation and cherry-picking at the expense of the comprehensive and high quality service currently provided".

He added: "RMT has shown through our high-profile campaigning that this issue is hugely important in the areas that depend on the current routes for both transport and high quality jobs. No doubt the minister will take all of that on board."

A Transport Scotland spokesman said:

"The Scottish Government remains absolutely committed to supporting Scotland's ferry services and welcomes the valuable contribution from the unions.

"We are considering all options in the ferries review, including unbundling some of the routes from the current network and tendering them singly which could lead to the provision of these lifeline ferry services at a lower cost and provide us with an opportunity to invest elsewhere on the Scottish ferries network. We look forward to discussions tomorrow as part of our ongoing dialogue with all of those with an interest in securing the very best deal for our ferry communities."

© Press Association