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Coronavirus: Wightlink 'Consulting With Staff' After FastCat Withdrawal

Wightlink is consulting with its staff as it prepares for what it calls 'difficult trading conditions' due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The news comes a day after the company suspended its FastCat service between Portsmouth and Ryde Pier and reduced sailings between Lymington and Yarmouth, as Isle of Wight Radio previously revealed.

Wightlink says to ensure 'sustainability' it has put forward a proposal with three elements. They involve:

  • Changes to pensions
  • Flexibility in working patterns
  • Changes to terms and conditions for future employees 

If the proposal is accepted the firm has promised there will be no compulsory job losses.

Wightlink claims it has lost £20 million in revenue at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking to Isle of Wight Radio yesterday (Tuesday), CEO Keith Greenfield said running the FastCat route was 'unviable' due to low passenger numbers.

He said:  

“It is my duty to ensure that Wightlink survives this crisis, however long it lasts. We must manage our current costs and future financial risks to protect jobs and our lifeline connections for Islanders.  

“The pandemic has had a devastating effect on the travel sector and wider industry. There have been widespread job losses, changes to terms and conditions and long term pay reductions. We do not want to see this happen at Wightlink.  

“If we can reach agreement with our colleagues and trade unions to combat these financial challenges, we can avoid compulsory redundancies and protect Wightlink’s services for the future.”  

Wightlink staff have 60 days to comment on the proposals. They include:

  • Ending of accruals in the legacy Defined Benefit (DB) pension, with existing benefits protected.
  • The doubling of company minimum contributions to the Defined Contribution (DC) pension which a majority of employees belong to.
  • New terms and conditions for new joiners.
  • And, if the proposals are accepted, a generous mutual severance scheme and a pledge that no employee will lose their job as a result of the pandemic.  

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