RMT members on the route will refuse to start work before 05:30 from Monday (February 18) in a dispute over the company's attempt to impose earlier rosters without agreement with the union.

Members voted by more than two to one for strike action after attempts to negotiate with the company foundered. The action will delay early sailings on the route and may have a knock-on effect on later services.

"Our team thought that progress was being made in today's talks, but management walked out without agreement being reached and that means Monday's action will go ahead," RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.

"We have tried our best to reach a negotiated settlement in this dispute, but the company has simply imposed what it wants and is now undermining its own rostering arrangements," Bob Crow said.

ends

For more details of the dispute, view previous RMT release at:
http://www.rmt.org.uk/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=101516&int1stParentNodeID=89732