Local MSP John Finnie, Scottish Greens, has called on the Scottish Government to nationalise the Northern Isles Ferries.
John Finnie’s motion to the Scottish Parliament stated:
“That the Parliament commends the RMT campaign, Nationalise NorthLink; considers that NorthLink ferries provide a vital service to communities in Orkney and Shetland; supports the RMT’s aim of more frequent, affordable and reliable ferries to the Northern Isles, on properly staffed vessels that are all covered by collective bargaining; believes that this can be best achieved under public ownership and operation, and calls on the Scottish Government to ensure that these lifeline services are brought into public ownership at the earliest opportunity, ensuring that public service, rather than private profit, drives them. “
John Finnie said:
“The good folk of Orkney deserve more frequent, affordable and reliable ferries, run in the interest of public service, rather than solely for private profit. It was good to see the Scottish Government recently purchase the three northern isles ferries, this should be the first step in bringing the whole setup back into public ownership.
“The RMT has been campaigning on this issue for some time and I fully support their calls to nationalise the service. Ensuring properly staffed vessels which are subject to collective bargaining can only benefit northern isles communities.”
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“to ensure that these lifeline services are brought into public ownership at the earliest opportunity, ensuring that public service, rather than private profit, drives them. “
Exactly. That business of changing the early ferry, so that folk feel their only option is to stay on the boat over-night, was, and is, just pushing it. And at a loss to hoteliers, B&B’s, self-catering owners on the islands, too.
Serco getting the contract, was madness – they don’t have a good record for showing any interest in the needs of the customer, more in the interests of the shareholders.
I puttered about it when it happened, and I’m still puttering about it!
Hi Bernie, I think that you’ll agree that we must exclude the excellent, polite and helpful stall who look after us on our travels from all these questions of ownership.