Please find a comment below from Jamie Halcro Johnston—
Responding to today’s announcement that none of the six invited guests will be attending the RMT trade union’s public meeting next month on the nationalisation of the Northern Isles Ferry Service, Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston commented:
“This is extremely embarrassing for the RMT – having attempted to create a one-sided discussion on something as important as the future of the Northlink ferries, the RMT are finding that people aren’t willing to just fall in behind them.
“Having decided not to invite me to their meeting - despite being an MSP for the region and one who is actually from the Northern Isles - they have now found none of their ‘invited guests’ will attend. My position is straightforward: that the people and businesses of Orkney and Shetland need a reliable operator that takes account of their needs, not one led by the interests of the trade unions and Ministers in Edinburgh.
“I am pleased that the invitees recognised that future of our vital transport connections is too important for the RMT to play games with. While attempting to snub other voices, the union has now found itself snubbed.”