Seamen Call for 40 Hour Week

A 40 hour week at sea and £60 a month for the fully rated seaman is the moderate claim submitted by the National Union of Seamen. The story of the current dispute is summarised in a leaflet circulated by the N.U.S,, and from which the following information is quoted: How the 1965 Agreement Worked: Last year's agreement (March 29, 1965) meant a monthly lump sum - it was £8. 2s, &d. for the A.B. - in the consolidated basic rate for adult ratings, to compensate for up to 8 hours’ wrk each on Saturdays and Sundays when a ship is at sea. That gave a good increase in earnings to most of our members, but they had to be prepared to work a a k urs each day at sea to get it. Making Work: Despite the fact that the spirit behind this agreement was that the existing pattern of work should continue, many of our members have been called upon to carry out manufactured and clearly non-essential work at weekends. The policy on many ships seems ‘to be, "The Agreement says we can work you 56 hours a week; so work you we will." There were exceptions to this and some owners began to arrange for week-day rest periods for ships at sea at week-ends. But, because of the backsliders among the owners, resentment began to build up against this system of working. Cut the Hours at Sea: So the Union decided that the only course was to go for the 40-hour week at sea as well as in port, with no cut in the present consolidated rates. Owners' Final Offer: After lengthy negotiations the owners finally agreed to offer something in terms of hours reduction. Their final offer was :- 1) A 4OQ-hour week at sea in three amual stages; 2) Direct overtime for all hours at week-ends and on public holidays, again in three stages; 3) A monthly increase of 12s, 6d. on the fifth year Efficient Service Pay (that is, to £60 for the fully rated A.B.); 4) Annual leave to go up to 36 days, and increase of 20 days. But at the same time they insist on 5) Withdrawal of the Sundayat-sea Leave Agreement, meaning an average loss of 37 days' paid compensatory leave a year; and, 6) A standstill on further wage increases for three years. What the Offer Means: It would mean a 48-hour week at sea immediately with 12s, 6d. monthly on the 5th year Efficient Service Pay and 36 days' annual leave now. But we would lose the Sunday—at-sea agreement. The next stage, in 12 months' time, would be a 44-hour week, with overtime for Saturday afternoon or after 4 hours worked before noon, The final stage, in 1968, would mean the 40-hour week at sea, with all week-end work paid at the appropriate overtime rate (e.g. 6s. for most deck and engine room ratings, and 5s. 7d. for assistant stewards). The owners say this offer would increase earnings by 5% now, 4% in a year's time and another 4% a year after that. But this calculation depends on whether the pattern of working remains as now. New techniques and equipment on ships tend to lessen the actual physical wrk required, and give wide scope for shipowners to reduce hours of duty. The Union Says "No": The Union's Executive Council cannot accept this final offer; it takes away the Sunday—at~sea leave with an inadequate replacement by annual leave and means that, though there might still be an opportunity for overtime earnings, the basic rate would stand still for 3 years. And the 40 hours at sea would not come in until 1968. The Union cannot negotiate further, so the logical next step is to declare ourselves in a state of dispute. And May 16 is the deadline we have set for withholding of labour. Full plans have been laid, and members will be kept informed through the Union's branches. This country needs an efficient and growing mercantile marine. But that cannot be achieved without decent pay and conditions for the men and women who oe eae) ae} + Pee