Steam Packet Ferry Officers to take 'Action Short of Strike' from 27th December

It's been confirmed that ferry officers at The Steam Packet Company will commence action short of strike, from the evening of 27th December.

The announcement comes from Nautilus International, the union representing the Steam Packet workers.

The dispute is over fundamental changes to their contracts of employment relating to live aboard arrangements, and the company's threat of fire and rehire.

Action short of strike will see the workers refuse to work any over time and refuse to 'work up' to cover senior roles onboard - it's expected these two things alone will result in an impact to passenger and freight services to the Island between Christmas and New Year and continue indefinitely into 2024.

Nautilius say this could have all been avoided if the Steam Packet had simply withdrawn their threat of fire and rehire, and committed to meaningful negotiations, or independent collective arbitration.

The action will commence from 6.30pm a week tomorrow.