Around 30 workers employed by AW Crewing have accepted an improved pay offer, resulting in a fortnight of strike action being called off.
The workers make up the crew of the Cefas Endeavour, a government surveying ship based out of the Port of Lowestoft in Suffolk. They are members of trade union Unite.
They were set to strike at Falmouth Docks from 28 September to 12 October in a dispute over pay and conditions. Previous industrial action took place from 9 to 12 September, when the ship was docked at the Port of Lowestoft with no crew.
As part of the new deal, the workers will receive a £3,200 consolidated lump sum backdated to 1 April, which is a 4.3% to 9.6% pay rise.
Staff had originally planned strike action as they did not work a fixed number of days on board and could find out with 72 hours warning how many days they would stay on the ship. They worked 12-hour shifts and could sometimes be at sea for 39 days in a row without a break, which they argued was affecting their work-life balance.
The workers asked for a fixed 28-day rotation, so they could book leave with enough warning. AW Crewing has confirmed that this will be part of the deal, and it will also reinstate workers’ travel days from 1 October.
Sharon Graham, general secretary at Unite, said: “These workers stood firm in their fight for better pay, which they have since won through undertaking industrial action. It is another example of the power of a union. It always pays to be a member of Unite.”
Claire Lees, regional officer at Unite, added: “Conditions were a major part of this dispute, with worker burnout a significant issue. We are pleased to have resolved this dispute with significantly improved terms as well as better pay for our members.”
AW Crewing was contacted for comment prior to publication.
