Isle of Wight ferry workers on Red Funnel will walk out for 24 hours on July 27 and August 1,3 and 5, it has been revealed.

Further dates are planned on 9, 11, 15, 17, 19, 23, 26 and 29 August.

Unite members will be taking action over the Cowes Week sailing regatta and start of the school summer holidays in a dispute over pay and conditions.

Staff have rejected a pay offer of 4.5 per cent from the company, increasing to 6.5 per cent for the lowest paid staff, because they say it is far below the real cost of living, currently running at 11.7 per cent and rising. 

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Around 120 staff will take action, says Unite union.

It says its workers are using food banks and are spending days away from home with no overnight pay or expenses

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Our members are absolutely right to strike to end this injustice. 

"Unite will be supporting them with its full force every step of the way."

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Why are Red Funnel staff planning to strike?

Unite says customer service staff, shunters and ratings are increasingly struggling to pay their rents and says some are turning to food banks and ‘making the most’ of onboard food allowances at work to keep bills down.

Isle of Wight workers say they find themselves away from home for days at time, due to crossing times, and are only paid the hours they work onboard the ferry.

Red Funnel says it provides its staff with accommodation but Unite says there are no cooking facilities, except a microwave, and says employees' sleep is disturbed. 

Unite regional officer Ian Woodland said: "Our members don’t want to strike but Red Funnel has left them with no choice.

"Red Funnel’s treatment of its workforce is the reason Cowes Week and Isle of Wight summer holiday plans will be disrupted.

"There is still time to end this dispute before strikes occur, but Red Funnel needs to come back with an offer that meets our members' aspirations."

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Isle of Wight County Press:

What has Red Funnel said?

Last week, Red Funnel said: "We are incredibly disappointed to have received notification today from Unite the Union that members voted for strike action.  
 
"Our priority is ensuring the Island remains connected and we continue to provide a lifeline service that so many rely upon. We will contact any impacted customers ahead of their booked crossing and advise of their options. We’d like to assure you that we have prepared robust contingency plans and do not anticipate a full stop to our services, rather, we expect to operate on a revised and reduced timetable, which we will communicate on 12th July."

Red Jets cross between Southampton and Cowes around 20 times per day, Monday to Saturday and 15 times on Sunday. 

The Red Funnel car ferry, between Southampton and East Cowes, makes 19 crossings daily.