Accessibility.SkipToMainContent
General secretary message

Union steers high-level negotiations in maritime coronavirus response

28 April 2020

Nautilus has played a leading role in industry dialogue on the coronavirus pandemic, steering policy decisions that affect members and, ultimately, all seafarers. 

Alongside its usual industrial support for members across various hard-hit sectors, the Union for maritime professionals has also gained recognition for seafarers as keyworkers, certification documents for travel, extensions to medical and training certification and extensions to SMaRT cadet funding.

In a report to Nautilus Council, Nautilus general secretary Mark Dickinson said: 'Even at the relatively early stage of the virus outbreak in the UK, seafarers were being treated as part of the problem not the solution. This was foolish given shipping and seafarers move 90% of goods are trade by sea.'

Nautilus was one of the first organisations to produce coronavirus FAQs in response to the many queries from members concerning the impact on employment.

Working in collaboration with charitable partners, Nautilus has signposted financial support for seafarers via the SAIL advice service.

Work with the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has involved building on its campaign for sick pay for all workers from day one, and then on the UK government's support measures – the scheme for furloughed workers and the scheme for self-employed workers.

The Union has also been in regular contact with the Department for Transport (DfT) and the UK Chamber of Commerce (UKCS). DfT is now considering a workers' pool scheme to support crisis employment planning, which Nautilus has taken up with the Chamber of Shipping and its sister rail union RMT.

The impact of coronavirus measures on members' jobs has been significant with a raft of job losses and furloughing of staff announced by UK ferry companies, offshore industries, and the cruise sector.

Mr Dickinson assured members that the Union will continue to fight to protect their jobs, pay and conditions during the ongoing pandemic.

Nautilus members who are experiencing difficulties related to the coronavirus outbreak are advised to contact their industrial organiser for assistance. In an emergency members can also contact the Nautilus 24/7 helpline.

More help and our coronavirus resource hub can be found on our Assistance page.


Tags

More articles

Health and safety

Nautilus FAQs on Covid-19 Coronavirus

  • Telegraph
  • 09 June 2020
General secretary message

Seafarers – our keyworker beacons in a global emergency

  • Telegraph
  • 21 April 2020
Health and safety

Seafarers in England to get priority testing for Covid-19

Seafarers in England will get priority testing for Covid-19 under the National Testing Strategy announced by The Department for Health and Social Care.

  • News
  • 24 April 2020
Industrial

Immediate government action needed to prevent massive job losses in UK offshore sector, say unions

Nautilus has joined with other trade unions to demand an urgent meeting with the UK government over the crisis in the offshore energy sector.

  • News
  • 27 April 2020
Health and safety

Unions fight to protect emergency medical care access during pandemic

Unions fight to protect emergency medical care access during pandemic

  • News
  • 27 April 2020
Nautilus news

'Come back to negotiating table' Union tells P&O Ferries as it outlines plans to lay up ships and furlough another 300 employees

Nautilus has pressed P&O Ferries to return to the negotiating table following its announcement to lay up four ships and furlough another 300 employees in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

  • News
  • 24 April 2020
Health and safety

Public Health England publish Covid-19 FAQs for maritime

Public Health England have published FAQs on Covid-19 for the maritime sector, which includes procedures for safe access for pilots on ships entering UK ports.

  • News
  • 24 April 2020
Welfare

New ITF statistics show unpaid crew wages remain a significant global problem

The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) has reported a large year-on-year increase in the 'owed wages' its ship inspectors have recovered for crews.

  • News
  • 24 April 2020
Members at work

Nautilus hails multi-million-pound support package for 'lifeblood' ferries

Nautilus International, the Union for maritime professionals, has hailed the British government's multi-million-pound coronavirus support package to keep open vital ferry and transport routes for supplies and people.

  • News
  • 24 April 2020
Welfare

Nautilus flags financial help available to furloughed seafarers

Financial support is available to furloughed crew from several Nautilus partner maritime charities.

  • News
  • 24 March 2020
Nautilus news

Nautilus flags UK Government support measures for members

Nautilus has joined forces with the RMT and the UK Chamber of Shipping to demand clarity over specific measures to support the maritime industry from UK Shipping Minister Kelly Tolhurst.

  • News
  • 30 March 2020
Nautilus partnerships

Inside view: How Covid-19 is affecting the Mediterranean yacht season

  • Telegraph
  • 15 April 2020
Health and safety

Nautilus helps produce topical new guidance on seafarer wellbeing

  • Telegraph
  • 15 April 2020