Seil Chat

I was dismayed to read the letter in the Oban Times regarding the arrogant behaviour of the ferrymen. I understand they receive a generous pay from Argyll and Bute and a week-on week-off work pattern. So why a refusal to be called to duty in the event of an emergency??
If everyone acted in this cantankerous manner then we would see an immediate breakdown in society.
Hang your heads lads.....

I agree, Sally. Isn't it the same kind of self-centred modern thinking that makes local health services opt out of 24/7 medical cover? We used to be a caring society where local responsibilities, especially in emergency, were paramount........

Perhaps we should have some sort of demonstration or something less controversial ??

According to the Scotsman:

Published Date: 04 November 2008
EMERGENCY ferry cover has been withdrawn from a 200-strong island community after a deal on the council-run service failed.
The four qualified boat masters who operate the ferry to the Argyll island of Luing have manned an out-of-hours service, to transport mainland based ambulance and medical staff, on a goodwill basis for years.

They have repeatedly asked Argyll and Bute Council and the Scottish Ambulance Service to recompense them, saying other emergency workers are paid for out-of-hours cover.

So the workers are not prepared any longer to provide an out-of-hours ferry service for nothing. Well, why should they? I can just see them turning out at three in the morning and one of them ending up getting breathalysed, sued by someone , charged with driving a ferry that is not insured for the hours of darkness or (insert own nonsense here).

We live in a different world, and not necessarily a better one. Someone has done the sums somewhere I am sure, and it is cheaper on average to call a helicopter out for the odd emergency than to pay a ferryman for 24 hour standby.

Who are you going to protest to Sal, the Council the government or the ferrymen?

- NickB

That might be a fair point of Nick's, Sally? And, also to be fair, the GPs received a big pay-rise to opt out of local 24/7 care. Quite a difference in circumstance, eh?

I was under the impression the ferrymen only had to spare 20 minutes MAX of their time to help those in need. If one was in the bustling streets of Oban or beyond and there was an "EMERGENCY" would one turn their head and ignore the problem for that 20 minutes MAX as one does not get paid??

if they dont want to work or cover
take there good salaries of them
and pay them per crossing
and remind them thats there job
no wonder the country is the way it is
rather than pay an extra 10 pounds a month
we will cover with a cheap helicopter

"Cheap helicopter" sounds like an oxyMORON to me..............Cheeky

I was under the impression the ferrymen only had to spare 20 minutes MAX of their time to help those in need.

Yes, that would of course be the case if said ferryman knew exactly when someone was going to require emergency evacuation and went down to the slipway in a timely manner - assuming of course that they could get to the slipway in zero minutes and get the ferry from where it is moored overnight.

It is emergency COVER though - which means they have to be on standby ALL NIGHT - they can't crack open a bottle of the amber nectar and enjoy themselves, or spend the night at a friend's house, in case they are called.

A lot of responsibility and time given up for a free service IMO. You will be suggesting we only pay firemen for the time they are attending a fire next.

Nick : your article refers to the ferry worker performing a call-out on a "goodwill basis" !!
My understanding is that they are paid for a call out AND have adjacent housing free of rent in order that they may perform this infrequent service !!

Fair point, however drinking and staying with friends are not necessary acts, nor are they threatened by the responsibility of being on call. The ferrymen are not/were not on a 24/7 365 rota for being on call, the job was shared therefore there could be ample opportunities for social lives. A single parent with a young child may wish to have a drink but can't, nor can they strike for more money to pay for their responsibilities. I, and I'm sure the majority, don't doubt the reasons for the discontinuation of the emergency service, merely wish the service providers could see how good they have it

well said !!!(Cheeky)

Perhaps you moaners should be campaigning for a fixed link and laying off our tea drinking council comrades