Fórsa members employed by P&O Maritime have voted overwhelmingly to accept a new pay deal worth 6.75% over two years. The agreement will see pay increases of 2% from last May, a further 2.25% from May 2019, and another 2.5% from 1st May 2020.

P&O Maritime operates the Marine Institute’s two research vessels, the RV Celtic Explorer and RV Celtic Voyager and employs ship-based and land-based staff. Fórsa members in the company are in a section of the union’s new Marine branch, which represents staff in the Marine Institute and the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority.

Fórsa assistant general secretary Johnny Fox said the deal would keep pay increases in line with average increases across the economy. “Over the past six years Fórsa has negotiated cumulative pay increases of 16%, which averages out at 2.8% a year. This is well within the economy-wide average and above industry norms in this sector,” he said.