UK Branch Conference: Nautilus members back motion to strengthen Employment Rights Bill

Nautilus International members at the 2025 UK Branch Conference have unanimously supported a motion recognising the Union's campaigning role in shaping the UK government's Employment Rights Bill and calling for further measures to safeguard maritime careers.

The motion praised the Union's efforts, which were instrumental in securing a Mandatory Seafarers' Charter as part of the UK government's Employment Rights Bill, as well as other protections aimed at preventing a repeat of the P&O Ferries scandal.

However, it states that while the Bill represents a significant step forward, loopholes still remain, particularly around the continued risk of fire and rehire practices.

It also highlights the need for stronger links between the legislation and the creation of secure, high-quality jobs, alongside protected training opportunities for UK-resident seafarers, through cabotage legislation.

Proposing the motion, Nautilus director of organising Martyn Gray said: 'The Employment Rights Bill represents a generational shift in rights in favour of working people. For the first time in a long time we have seen maritime professionals considered in this.

'With every leap forward, there are things we would like to see done better. Therer are loopholes that still need to be tightened up, there are key points still up for debate, and the Bill continues to bounce between commons and lords as we seek to drive this change.

'This motion gives us the ability to go to key players in government and Parliament and say that our members want better. They want to stop the exploitation of fire and rehire tactics. They want to make sure that rights work for working people, including maritime professionals – especially those onboard.

'We want sectoral collect bargaining to be expanded so we can discuss collectively with shipowners and prevent the race to the bottom.

'And we want to go further. Why stop with just having rights for maritime professionals in primary and secondary legislation? We want to push for appropriate cabotage laws.'

The motion instructs Nautilus to:

• Continue lobbying government and parliament to strengthen the Employment Rights Bill by ensuring that fire and rehire practices are outlawed except in situations where companies are on the brink of insolvency
• seek to enhance the Mandatory Seafarers' Charter with framework agreements providing for collective bargaining and decent work including fair pay, pensions, fatigue management, and safe crewing levels
• urgently pursue a government commitment to meaningful cabotage protections and/or domestic employment quotas, linking them to maritime training, to ensure the long-term sustainability of the UK maritime skills base and enhance the UK's maritime security and resilience