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CalMac wins ferries contract

May 19, 2016

CalMac has won a new £900m contract to remain as operator of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferries Network.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced that CalMac is the preferred tenderer for the next contract to operate the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS) this morning.

Serco Caledonian Ferries also submitted a bid for the lucrative contract.

CalMac’s bid makes almost 350 commitments to improve the service, aiming to help drive economic growth, improve customer service and make sure the company delivers value for money.

Proposals include:

£6 million investment in vessel and port improvements
The introduction of smart and integrated ticketing systems on key routes
Increase passenger/vehicle traffic by 10% and commercial traffic by 12% over the course of the contract
Providing more opportunities for local employment, including more apprenticeships
The creation of a new Director of Community and Stakeholder Engagement post and a Communities Board to better involve communities in investment and services decisions
Retaining its head office in Gourock and maintaining its status as a Living Wage employer
All existing routes and services will continue to operate as they do now

In addition to these headline proposals, CalMac has committed to retaining the CalMac pension scheme and a policy of no compulsory redundancies.

The tender price for the next contract is around £900 million for eight years from 1st October 2016.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “I’m very pleased to announce CalMac as our preferred bidder for the next Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract.

“CalMac have a long and proud tradition of running the Clyde and Hebrides routes, and the company is woven into the fabric of the communities they serve.

“Their tender offers a good deal for those communities served by these vital transport links and ensures that we can maximise the opportunities to support and nurture our island economies.

“CalMac will better manage demand to drive an increase in traffic, as well as make the ferry services more attractive with the introduction of smart ticketing on key routes.

“The Scottish Government has made a clear commitment to our ferry services, investing a record £1 billion in port infrastructure, vessels and services since 2007.

“Scottish Ministers will retain control of all of important issues, such as fares and timetables, through the public service contract. Vessels and port infrastructure will also remain publicly owned as they are now.

“This new contract looks to make further improvements our ferry services, and I look forward to CalMac starting the new contract later this year.”

CalMac industrial action to commence next week

June 17, 2015

CalMac union RMT has confirmed a schedule of industrial action set to star next week.

The union warned this weekend that the‎ Clyde and Hebrides service is being set up for takeover by the profiteering private company Serco, which, along with Caledonian MacBrayne, is in the running to provide this essential lifeline service to the west coast islands.

RMT members have voted by well over 90% for action in a ballot that covers both strikes and action short of strikes. The action confirmed today is as follows:

Members will be instructed to take strike action as follows:-

• If the ship is in port then my members will be instructed not to ‘turn to’ (book on) for any duty that commences between 00:01 hours and 23:59 hours on Friday 26th June 2015.

This action is intended to be discontinuous.

Furthermore members will be instructed to take discontinuous industrial action in the form of an overtime and call back ban between:-

• 00:01 hours on Wednesday 24th June and 23:59 hours on Thursday 25th June 2015.

RMT continues to demand the assurances that staff are rightly demanding in their fight for workplace justice while the billion pound contracting process is kicked around behind closed doors.

General Secretary Mick Cash said: “RMT members on CalMac rightly feel that they are caught in the crossfire of an unnecessary and damaging tendering battle that leaves jobs, conditions and pensions hanging by a thread. That is simply intolerable.

“As a result of the failure to give staff the most basic assurances we are now using the massive mandate secured in the ballot and confirming a programme of industrial action.

“RMT wants cast iron assurances and we want them now and we are prepar‎ed to engage in meaningful talks around that agenda as we prepare for the first phase of industrial action.”

Stewart raises CalMac strike action with Transport Minister

June 16, 2015

David Stewart MSP

Shadow Transport Minister, David Stewart MSP this morning quizzed the Scottish Government on how it plans to respond to the concerns of the CalMac workforce, who recently balloted for strike action.

Last week members of the RMT Union voted overwhelmingly for both strike action and action short of a strike in a ballot over jobs, pensions and working conditions.

The vote conducted by the union revealed over 92% voted for strike action and 98% for action short of a strike on a 60% turnout. 55% of the total number eligible to vote voted yes for strike action and 58% of total eligible voted yes for action short of a strike.

Mr Stewart expressed his concern to the Minister saying: “90% of those who voted backed calls for industrial action and I have genuine and heartfelt sympathy for the workers involved, the Scottish Government owe it to these workers to resolve this dispute.”

He continued: “Does the Scottish Government share the view of the RMT general secretary Mick Cash who said: ‘RMT members on CalMac rightly feel that they are caught in the crossfire of an unnecessary and damaging tendering battle that leaves jobs, conditions and pensions hanging by a thread.’? Surely the Scottish Government has learnt from the fiasco of the Northern Isles ferry routes, where Serco cut crossings and axed jobs.”

Speaking after the exchange Mr Stewart said: “The results of the RMT strike action ballot was overwhelmingly in favour of taking industrial action, something everyone involved would like to see adverted if possible. This is a crucial issue and the Scottish Government can not stand on the side-lines.

“The Scottish Government need to respond clearly and quickly to address this deteriorating situation to not only secure jobs, condition, pay and pensions for the Cal Mac workforce, but also to address the concerns of many islanders rightly worried about the continuity of lifeline ferry services for our islands and also the concerns being expressed by the business community who rely on these vital ferry services.”

Serco and CalMac invited to bid for ferries contract

June 10, 2015

Two operators have been invited to take part in the next stage of the tender for the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS) contract, Minister for Transport and Islands Derek Mackay has announced.

CalMac Ferries Limited and Serco Caledonian Ferries Limited have both passed the pre-qualification stage of the process and will be invited to submit tenders for the next CHFS contract, which will run from 1st October 2016 for a duration of up to eight years.

Both operators will, today, be given access to copies of the draft Invitation To Tender (ITT) documentation, which will then formally be issued to them on the 10th July 2015.

The invitation for both operators to submit a final tender is scheduled for December 2015, with a view to awarding the contract in May 2016.

Mr Mackay said: “This is another significant step forward for the tender process and moves us closer to awarding the next Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract.

“The award of this contract will be an incredibly important moment for the island communities served by these lifeline ferry services. The Scottish Government will provide up to £1bn of funding to support the enhancement and development of these services, in addition to fares revenue. It will also ensure that Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) continues to be applied on CHFS routes, bringing significantly reduced fares for passengers, cars, small commercial vehicles and coaches and helping to support local communities and the tourist industry.

“These ferry services play a crucial role in enabling continued and sustainable economic growth for the Islands. We are committed to delivering the very best deal for all of the communities of the Clyde and Hebrides.”

CalMac wins ferries contract

CalMac industrial action to commence next week

Stewart raises CalMac strike action with Transport Minister

Serco and CalMac invited to bid for ferries contract

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