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Unions to protest against ferry workers’ low pay
[ February 17, 2014 // Chris ]Trade unionists are to stage a protest at the gates of Portsmouth Commercial Port at 16:00 on the afternoon of Tuesday 18 February against the employment practices of Channel Islands operator Condor Ferries. The company is accused by the unions of paying as little as £2.35 per hour to Ukrainian crews that replaced British crews – well below the UK minimum wage. The unions add that Condor claims that the crews are not domiciled in the European Union (the Channel Islands are outside the EU) and have to work longer hours of duty, while receiving shorter leave.
ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) UK and Ireland coordinator Ken Fleming commented: “This demonstration is in solidarity with their plight and in protest at the behaviour of the company at treating them this way.”