Gordon Martin, RMT union regional organiser in Scotland, gives his view on the future of the Clyde's ferry services

It’s been two weeks since the Scottish Parliament returned from Summer recess and the future of CalMac ferry services was on everyone’s lips.

Jamie Greene MSP recently penned a piece on the importance of a reliable ferry service for island communities.

While Greene rightly points to the frustrations faced by passengers and businesses, the support for direct award to CalMac is conspicuous by its absence. 

RMT’s position as a dedicated ferry and transport union is that our members, passengers and communities need long term certainty from direct award of the Clyde and Hebrides contract to CalMac.

The Tory tactics of privatisation and populism are not in the public interest.

Instead, Scotland’s lifeline ferry networks must be publicly owned to protect jobs, services and public subsidy from private profit.

Disruption to ferry services have a profound impact on the livelihoods of those living in island communities. 

These services are not just transport links—they are lifelines, essential for maintaining the flow of goods, supporting tourism, local businesses and providing access to vital public services.

RMT members, the CalMac key workers of the pandemic, firmly believe that tendering the next contract would exacerbate the problems created by the failure to deliver the Ferguson Marine contract. 

We will not stand for service decline, reduced job security, pay cuts and reduced onboard services under a private operator, particularly when the Scottish Government knows that it can make the direct award tomorrow, if it really wanted to.

CalMac, as a publicly owned operator, has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to reinvesting in services and supporting local employment, and this not only protects local economies, it is one of the few long term careers that young people on our islands can rely on.

This is reflected in CalMac’s apprenticeship programme which recently took in 20 new apprentices, an important investment in the future of Scotland’s maritime workforce.

A direct award to CalMac therefore is the best way to ensure that these jobs and others are protected and that the necessary improvements to services, vessels and harbours are made without compromising service quality or workers’ terms and conditions.

There is also an urgent need for investment in the infrastructure at Ardrossan port.

Despite the creation of the Ardrossan Harbour Taskforce eight years ago, the necessary upgrades have not materialised.

This failure has left one of CalMac’s busiest routes operating with outdated, unsafe and inadequate harbour facilities at privately owned Ardrossan harbour.

RMT agrees that swift action is needed, but also argues that the Scottish Government must consider a compulsory purchase of Ardrossan port from its private owners, Peel Ports, if they continue to neglect their responsibilities.

The Scottish Government’s Ferries Plan, which expired in 2022, has left CalMac to operate under an inconsistent and short-sighted procurement strategy.

The ongoing development of the Islands Connectivity Plan, while necessary, is a case of too little, too late.

We need a clear, long-term strategy centred on public ownership and sustainable investment that is essential to prevent further delays and ensure that Scotland’s Island communities receive the reliable service they deserve.

Reliance on private operators to plug gaps in the ferry network, such as the use of the privately chartered MV Alfred catamaran, is not a recipe for success.

This not only incurs significant costs for the taxpayer but undermines the collectively bargained terms and conditions of CalMac workers.

The solution, as the RMT sees it, is clear: the Scottish Government must confirm a long- term direct award to CalMac.

This will provide the certainty needed to protect jobs, maintain service quality, and allow for the much-needed investment in vessels and infrastructure.

Instead of exploring private sector involvement, the government should focus on strengthening CalMac’s role as a publicly owned operator that serves the interests of Scotland’s people, rather than private profits.

That's why the union is calling for a summit involving all stakeholders, including passenger groups, trade unions, local businesses, and government representatives, to ensure that the future of Scotland’s ferry services is secured.

This collective approach would provide a forum for addressing the immediate challenges while laying the groundwork for long-term success.