Nautilus head of public affairs Sarah Haughey reflects on a positive meeting between the Union and government minister Kate Dearden MP to discuss the special circumstances of seafarers regarding employment rights and the future of the Dreadnought Medical Service
On 21 January, Martyn Gray, director of organising, and I met with Kate Dearden MP, Minister for Employment Rights and Consumer Protection, at Westminster.
The Minister – who led the passage of the landmark Employment Rights Act 2025 – engaged positively with us on how the legislation can be refined to better support our members. We outlined several key challenges faced by seafarers, including:
- Access to workplaces. While we have access to vessels, we highlighted the need for clearer guidance on access to the ports and harbours where those vessels are docked
- E-balloting. we raised concerns that VPN geolocation issues may create barriers for seafarers participating in e-ballots
- The scope of the legislation. We proposed reducing the number of port visits required for vessels to fall within the scope of the legislation from 120 to 52 per year, which would ensure more vessels and seafarers benefit. We have consistently lobbied for this and will continue to do so
We also discussed the Dreadnought Medical Service. Following consideration of whether the responsibility to fix this sits within health, maritime, or devolved nations, we believe we have identified a route forward and will continue to pursue this.
Finally, we raised concerns regarding Ministry of Defence parental leave policies, noting their contribution to crewing shortages at the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and the disproportionate impact on women’s careers. The minister requested a formal briefing note on this issue.
Further discussions are planned with Baroness Whittaker and Amanda Martin MP (member of parliament for Portsmouth North) regarding challenges faced by dual-serving parents.
It was a really positive meeting, covering a wide range of issues, and we will keep you updated as our campaigns progress.
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