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Union boss tells UK to match Irish ferry support

[ April 14, 2020   //   ]

General secretary of the TSSA union Manuel Cortes, has called on the UK to follow the example of the Irish Government after Dublin stepped in to provide major funding and support to keep sea routes running during the Coronavirus crisis. Ireland has pledged a €15 million support package for ferry routes run by Irish Ferries, Stena Line and Brittany Ferries, meaning that routes from Ireland to Wales, France and Spain will effectively be operated by the state for the coming three months.

The move comes after Stena Line revealed plans for 150 redundancies with another 600 staff placed on furlough leave across Britain and Ireland. Cortes – whose union represents shore-based staff at Stena – said: “This is a startling example of what can be done to keep these vital companies and routes afloat until this health emergency is over.

He added: “The Tory Government in London has said money is no object in protecting jobs and the wider economy at this time – they need to put their money where their mouth is. If Dublin can do it, so can London.”

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