darrenprocter (@dazprocter) header
darrenprocter (@dazprocter) profile picture

A former seafarer and National Secretary of RMT Union. A family man and a bitter blue nose. All views expressed are my own

Havant, England
Joined July 2012
Photo by darrenprocter (@dazprocter)Photo by darrenprocter (@dazprocter)Photo by darrenprocter (@dazprocter)Photo by darrenprocter (@dazprocter)Photo by darrenprocter (@dazprocter)Photo by darrenprocter (@dazprocter)Photo by darrenprocter (@dazprocter)Photo by darrenprocter (@dazprocter)Photo by darrenprocter (@dazprocter)Photo by darrenprocter (@dazprocter)
darrenprocter retweeted
RMT National Secretary, @dazprocter met with members from Travel Centre, freight operations and call centre in Holyhead this morning to complete a week of visiting Stena Line members across the Irish Sea working onboard and in the port’s.
2
7
1,980
darrenprocter retweeted
Photographs from RMT National Secretary, @dazprocter onboard visit to the Stena Estrid, which operates between Dublin and Holyhead, today. The National Secretary gave an overview of current industrial matters, upcoming negotiations, potential opportunities and areas members' would like to see progressed.
3
8
1,792
darrenprocter retweeted
RMT welcomes Skills England decision to protect vital maritime apprenticeships Maritime union RMT has welcomed Skills England’s decision on the future of maritime apprenticeships, including the vital Seafarer Deck Rating apprenticeship, which plays a crucial role in supporting jobs, skills and careers in Britain’s coastal communities. RMT General Secretary, Eddie Dempsey, said: “As the trade union for seafarer Ratings, RMT strongly welcomes the fact that Skills England has listened to the concerns of the union, evidence from our seafarer members and to employers and training providers who recognise the vital importance of apprenticeships to deliver local seafarer jobs and careers in our coastal communities.  “RMT has been calling upon industry bodies and government departments for investment in Maritime Apprenticeships for years which has been decimated by exploitative practices by low cost operators in all sectors of shipping. “We look forward to building on the links we have established with Skills England to deliver more maritime apprenticeships for seafarer Ratings in every sector of the maritime economy and call upon industry to re-establish the skills required as an island nation. There is no shortage of individuals willing to embark on a career at sea, particularly in our deprived coastal towns and cities and a fundamental requirement of providing opportunities is a strategical approach that results in a major increase in training and jobs for seafarers, and RMT is ready to play its part in achieving this working with those employers who are investing in UK Ratings.”
9
21
2,464
darrenprocter retweeted
RMT National Secretary, @dazprocter is accompanied by Stena Convenor, Michael Hobson and Port lead representative, Colin Griffiths onboard the Stena Nordica traveling from Rosslare to Fishguard.
1
13
2,659
darrenprocter retweeted
RMT National Secretary, @dazprocter was accompanied by RMT Convenor, Michael Hobson and Lead Representative for Holyhead, Colin Griffiths, in Belfast VT4 today undertaking a surgery for Stena Line members discussing individual industrial issues and collective objectives.
4
24
3,584
darrenprocter retweeted
RMT National Secretary, @dazprocter was once again visiting members working on the Thames for City Cruises, with an early meeting of Captains and Mates, followed by meeting cabin staff and pier staff along with our elected representatives to discuss industrial issues, improved organising and initiating workplace debates.
1
4
23
4,379
darrenprocter retweeted
RMT National Secretary, @dazprocter pictured onboard the Stena Adventurer with long-term member, and former shipmate, Gary Parkin during today's visit onboard the vessel between Dublin and Holyhead.
4
19
3,955
darrenprocter retweeted
RMT long-service awards at Portsmouth Branch Last night, RMT National Secretary, @dazprocter and Wessex Regional Organiser, Geoff Kite were in attendance to present Portsmouth branch members with 10, 25 and 40 year long-service awards. 👏
7
31
4,581
darrenprocter retweeted
RMT secure commitment to review trade union access rights for seafarers. During the Commons Committee looking at TU Access Regs, @johnmcdonnellMP, @grahamemorris and @catecclesstour spoke up in support of the RMT’s concern that the regulations would not apply to seafarers working on non-UK flagged ships from UK ports, which would leave P&O Ferries, Irish Ferries and a host of other exploitative operators unaffected. Employment Rights Minister, @Kate_Dearden responded constructively and has agreed to review improvements to trade union access and other measures for merchant seafarers with a close connection to the UK.
20
1
36
4,487
darrenprocter retweeted
RMT National Secretary Darren Procter and RFA Convenor Ian Parkin visited members aboard RFA Tideforce yesterday during maintenance in Portland, Dorset. They gave an industrial update and discussed workplace organising around member-led priorities.
5
9
4,009
darrenprocter retweeted
RMT National Secretary, @dazprocter alongside colleagues from Nautilus and GMB at the RFA Keel laying event in Appledore shipyard yesterday, Merchant Navy Day.
5
19
4,752
darrenprocter retweeted
RMT PAYS TRIBUTE TO MERCHANT NAVY SEAFARERS Seafarers union, RMT today paid tribute to the historic contribution of merchant navy Ratings to the economy, security and maritime traditions of all nations in the UK on Merchant Navy Day. RMT General Secretary, Eddie Dempsey said: “It is a huge privilege to lead the trade union that represents merchant navy seafarers at work today around our coast and in international waters.  “This Merchant Navy Day, it is right that we pause to remember the thousands of seafarers who gave their lives to protect and preserve these islands throughout our history.  “As our nation faces new and ever more challenging threats to our national security RMT will be paying tribute to those who have gone before them, whilst continuing to campaign for seafarers to ensure that as an island nation we are maintaining and growing the maritime jobs and skills required around our coast.”
14
37
4,447
darrenprocter retweeted
RMT warns of threat to seafarer apprenticeships SEAFARERS union RMT has raised the alarm at government consultations over the permanent removal of apprenticeship schemes for seafarer Ratings in the maritime industry. The government’s new skills body, Skills England has announced that it was ‘retiring’ apprenticeship standards including the Deck Rating Apprenticeship, the only scheme that employers have consistently used to train UK Ratings for employment in the shipping industry. The Deck Rating apprenticeship was designed by the union in 2015, in collaboration with government, maritime colleges and employers, including Stena Line and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Several maritime employers use this apprenticeship to maintain a supply of new Ratings to the industry. The union estimates that over 600 UK resident Deck Ratings have been trained using this apprenticeship. RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said that it would be dangerously short-sighted to cut Ratings apprenticeships with no alternative provision. “We are raising this disturbing and dangerous development with ministers, some of whom clearly don’t understand the importance of the maritime supply chain to our economy and to our national security. “Cutting the Deck Rating Apprenticeship would reward the likes of P&O Ferries, Irish Ferries and operators in the offshore wind supply chain who crew their vessels with exploited international crew, undercutting progressive employers who train and employ local seafarers. “Trade unions and employers support this apprenticeship – we should be improving standards and increasing the uptake of maritime apprenticeships not cutting them. “That is why we need comprehensive maritime apprenticeships to benefit national security and coastal communities that are crying out for decent jobs. Seafarer apprenticeships should be the bedrock of our island economy and national security, not an optional extra,” he said.
2
22
4
53
10,413
darrenprocter retweeted
🚨 Pay win at Stena Line Seafarers’ union RMT has secured another pay win for seafarers at Stena Line which represent uplifts of up to nearly 25 per cent in addition to the annual pay increase for 2026. RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey applauded RMT maritime officials for engaging with Stena regarding retention of skills in the short term and its longer-term vision for UK ratings, job security, and opportunities for career development. “I would like to thank RMT national secretary Darren Procter, our shipboard representatives and Stena convenor Michael Hobson for all their hard work on behalf of the members. “In contrast to rogue employers like P&O Ferries, Stena Line has publicly supported good quality employment of UK seafarers, whilst recognising that in order to attract the best people and retain the experience and loyalty of its people it has to compete with the pay scales of other employers which had fallen in decline,” he said. The Stena Line wage increases across grades working within the Deck and Technical department include uplifts for the following grades: Bosun – 24 per cent Assistant Bosun – 20 per cent AB – 17 per cent Hotel Repairman – 20 per cent Engine watch ratings between 8 and 17 per cent.
2
32
2
84
5,800
darrenprocter retweeted
RMT Assistant National Secretary, Karlson Lingwood and South West Regional Organiser, Dave Goard visiting members on the Scillonian III - pictured with RMT Representative, Darren James and Steward, Jenny.
2
14
4,716
darrenprocter retweeted
P&O pension debt victory Seafarers union RMT today marked a significant victory for seafarers' pensions after P&O Ferries paid over £90 million it owed to the Merchant Navy Ratings Pension Fund (MNRPF). The payment follows negotiations between the MNRPF Trustees and DP World and means the £94 million debt has now been paid in full, with the funds invested alongside other scheme assets. It also removes the charges held over P&O Ferries' vessels, which had been put in place as security against any default on the company's obligations. RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said that the victory came after RMT campaigned vigorously for justice for the 786 seafarers sacked by P&O Ferries and that they pay what it owed to the MNRPF. “While this is good news for MNRPF members, it is also good news for other MNRPF participating employers who would have been left with P&O Ferries’ debt had it gone into administration. “RMT would like to congratulate the MNRPF Trustees on successfully negotiating this payment, but we would like to make it clear that the campaign for justice for the 786 seafarers ruthlessly sacked by P&O Ferries continues,” he said.
1
30
2
72
5,378
darrenprocter retweeted
A photograph from yesterday’s meeting of the RMT Docks, Ports and Waterways sectoral organising committee that saw representatives, both in person and online, from several workplaces across the UK, discuss priority focus areas for the union in this sector.
5
18
4,702
darrenprocter retweeted
RMT National Secretary, @dazprocter today met with Holyhead No:1 branch officials, Steve Conway and Mike Roberts and Stena Line Convenor, Michael Hobson to develop more visits, more presence and increased engagement around Holyhead Port as part of our Docks, Ports and Waterways campaign.
3
4
17
5,166
darrenprocter retweeted
RMT Assistant General Secretary, Daren Ireland, Regional Organiser, Kathy Mazur and RMT North Thames LTS Branch Secretary, Dave Conroy out in Tilbury speaking to maritime transport workers about the benefits of RMT collective bargaining. #JoinRMT
2
13
27
5,243
darrenprocter retweeted
RMT National Secretary, @dazprocter with Stena Line Belfast VT4 Health and Safety representative Evan Sayers during a walk around of the port and engagement with 3 of the 4 shifts in the terminal. #organisedonthequaybyRMT
4
7
2,416