Passengers and freight operators face chaos as Irish Ferries has today withdrawn three vessels from service in an escalation of its dispute with SIPTU and the Seamen's union of Ireland.
The company said that failure to agree a €3.4m cost-cutting and redundancy programme with unions has left it with costs over 30% out of line with its main competitors.
Its "Isle of Inishmore" Rosslare / Pembroke route, the "Jonathan Swift" Dublin, Holyhead route and "Normandy" Rosslare, Cherbourg route have all been withdrawn.
In a statement released today the company said : "The decision taken by Irish Ferries to commence the withdrawal of three of its four ferry vessels from service is one that has been forced on it by the refusal of one of the trade unions involved (Seamen' Union of Ireland) to engage with the second trade involved (SIPTU) in joint negotiations with the company for the purpose of agreeing new manning levels which would bring the company¹s cost base into line with those of its main competitors.
"The recommendation that both trade unions should engage in joint negotiations with the company was made by the Irish Labour Court following their hearing of the issues involved," the statement added.