Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne has written to London-based general secretary Bob Crow renewing a request for clarification of the union’s position following Mr Crow’s rejection of the proposal for settlement. The company has also confirmed that they are not involved in “fresh talks” which the union is claiming has been scheduled for Friday afternoon.

The RMT union has issued a news release this afternoon claiming that talks will be led by Mr Crow. Caledonian MacBrayne is now confirming that they have no locus in the meeting. Alasdair MacInnes, CalMac’s Director of Human Resources said: “We have maintained contact with the union through the usual channels. However, we have at no time been invited to meetings, nor have we suggested that. I understand that the meeting will in fact be between Mr Crow and the locally-based delegates who agreed a proposal for settlement earlier in the week. Our position remains the same. The RMT union agreed in principle to a proposal for settlement. Mr Crow rejected that unilaterally and prevented a ballot. It is for the RMT to explain to our customers why we are in this position now.”

In the letter to Mr Crow, Mr MacInnes seeks clarification from Mr Crow about the way the proposed settlement was rejected and how Mr Crow has called for further meetings. Mr MacInnes states that it was the RMT’s intention to ballot the members on the agreed proposals. He said today: “Mr Crow assured me last night that he was committed to balloting RMT members on the proposal for settlement.  We welcome this as it will give our staff the chance to decide for themselves whether to accept the proposals or not.  We, along with everyone else who attended the meeting on Monday and Tuesday, believed that we had achieved a fair and reasonable proposal for settlement. We await the outcome of the ballot with interest and we hope that it will reflect our own understanding of RMT members’ positions.”

ends

For further information on the contents of this News Release, please contact Hugh Dan MacLennan, Public Affairs Manager, Caledonian MacBrayne.

Tel: 0776 435 4021; e-mail hugh.maclennan@calmac.co.uk

Issued:  Thursday, August 7, 2003    (1530)