Call for end to ferry tendering
Trade union leader Manuel Cortes, who represents around 100 CalMac staff, says the critical ferry service must be publicly funded in the future.
Mr Cortes stopped off in Oban as part of an eight-day tour of the Outer Hebrides to visit Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) members.
TSSA general secretary Mr Cortes is demanding an end to the franchising of Hebridean ferries and wants to see any future tendering of services scrapped.
In 2016, CalMac beat off Serco to win an eight-year contract to run the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services. At that time trades unions and Labour MSPs argued that the franchising system was unnecessary and a waste of public money.
Mr Cortes said: ‘Everyone living in or visiting the Hebrides knows the ferries are critical to their survival. That’s why we can’t let up the pressure until their future is secured as a publicly-funded service and the franchising model that hinders its development is ended.’
The TSSA claims outsourcing the lifeline services to private contractors is still part of the SNP transport agenda.
Mr Cortes said fleet reshuffles due to repairs are stressing out frontline CalMac workers who are taking the brunt of passengers’ complaints.
He says it is the Scottish Government to blame for not giving CalMac the investment it needs to provide a ‘first-class’ fleet. ‘Make no mistake, the motivation for everyone at CalMac is to provide the best customer service to passengers. When things go wrong, it’s a very stressful time, not just for passengers but also for our members who are unable to deliver those services. They know they are letting people down.
‘When things don’t go well, it’s the staff on the front line who have to deal with irritated passengers.’
A technical issue with the linkspan at Oban ferry terminal earlier this month resulted in disrupted sailings.
Mr Cortes added: ‘We need a first class ferry fleet and port facilities for everywhere that CalMac serves. We are in contact with CalMac but investment decisions are made by the Scottish Government. It’s up to them to up their game and make sure CalMac gets the investment it needs to deliver its lifeline services. Tendering wastes a lot of money which could be put to better use.’