Victimisation of RMT activist Paul Kelly by Wightlink Ferries: Urgent solidarity needed.

17 November (Statement from Mick Tosh, RMT Portsmouth & Chair of Portsmouth TUC) Brother Kelly is active amongst all grades at Wightlink Ferries and has recently been involved in protesting against an imposition of Rosters. This increase in the rostered turn was deemed necessary after the MCA (Ed: Maritime and Coastguard Agency) identified shortfalls in management recorded drills amongst some grades. This shortfall is largely due to poor management structures and was challenged by Bro Kelly as such.

During the course of his working day Brother Kelly was seen with out PPE (Ed: Personal Protective Equipment) when responding to a call for emergency mechanical assistance by the ships Captain. The same manager Paul was protesting against who was imposing the roster has chosen to inflate allegations and prejudice the case against our Representative, not withstanding many managers frequently ignoring PPE requirements. The managers first action resulted in informal advice being issued and accepted by Bro Kelly but the manager obviously did not feel this had put Bro Kelly in his place. He then instigated a formal misconduct charge.

After a fact finding interview it was apparent that Bro Kelly would not be humiliated to the managers satisfaction, so the manager in question sought to up the anti by pushing the investigation officer to pursue a different allegation not previously identified and lacking any supporting evidence in the statements of 5 other staff interviewed on the initial allegation which, was used to charge our member with gross misconduct. All other witnesses refute this charge. However Brother Kelly was dismissed 11/11/11.

We demand the immediate reinstatement of Brother Kelly, his leave period during which the management harassed him be returned to him and a transparent investigation be carried out into how this manager was allowed to use the disciplinary process to carry out this vendetta and how other members of management have supported this campaign against an RMT representative.

Messages of solidarity can be sent via Portsmouth RMT branch: [email protected]