Today ‪‎RMT‬ workers on ‪CalMac‬ ferries start an overtime ban followed by a 24 hour strike on Friday. This is a really big deal for the Highlands and Islands, where people rely on the service to come and go, and for the future of the ferries themselves.

It’s important that islanders and working class people in general support the strike and don’t put up with right-wing propaganda against union organising. This will cause massive disruption but all anger should be direct towards CalMac management and the SNP government.

The workers are striking to safeguard jobs, conditions, pensions and the future of the service, as the ferries are to be fully privatised and CalMac and Serco fight for the contract. Privatisation will be disastrous, giving the controlling company even more power to put their profits over our needs and services. The SNP supports this process, it isn’t obligated by the EU to carry it out, but is doing it anyway.

Solidarity with all workers!