News / Ferry strikes continue
SHETLAND Islands Council has issued details of disruptions to ferry sailings on Wednesday as a result of continued strike action by ferry mates belonging to the Unite trade union.
Services from 6am will be disrupted, with the first ferry on the Lerwick-Bressay route leaving Bressay at 8.50am. The first Bluemull Sound run of the day will leave Gutcher at 9.30am, while Yell Sound will be up and running from Ulsta at 9.15am. The Whalsay service will leave Symbister at 9.15am.
Because it is Up Helly Aa week, Wednesday is a public holiday – meaning there will be a single vessel on the Bluemull Sound, Yell Sound and Whalsay routes, while there will be no ferry to Skerries or Papa Stour.
The industrial dispute over pay grades has been rumbling for several months, and Unite confirmed earlier this month that action would commence after arbitration failed to find a resolution.
Ferry mates’ first three-hour walkout took place last Wednesday, and the walkout period is set to be extended to six hours on the first two Wednesdays in February.
- Full details about Wednesday’s disruption are available on the local authority’s website here.
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