Nautilus boss elected chair of UK Trades Union Congress

The UK’s trade union federation Trades Union Congress (TUC) elected Nautilus general secretary Mark Dickinson as its president at its annual conference in Brighton on September 11, a role he will hold for one year, as well as chairing TUC’s General Council and Executive Committee.

Now in his fourth term as general secretary at Nautilus International, an independent trade union for maritime professionals with 20,000 members, Dickinson has a 40-year career in the maritime industry. He started at sea in the British Merchant Navy and as a navigating officer, before moving ashore for over a decade at the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), among other roles.

“This is a historic moment, as I become the first general secretary of my union to assume this position and the first seafarer since Tom Yates, National Union of Seamen, in 1958,” said Dickinson.

His election comes amid strike action by Nautilus and RMT members in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. The first ever RFA strike action took place on August 15, and was followed by another day on September 3, merchant navy day. A further three days are planned from September 20-22 to coincide with the annual conference of the UK’s Labour Party.

The strikes relate to a pay dispute, with RFA members suffering a 30% pay cut since 2010, according to Nautilus. Dickinson noted the wider importance of his election to the TUC presidency.

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 “From the lingering cost-of-living crisis to acts of corporate thuggery like P&O Ferries illegal sacking of 786 UK seafarers, workers across Britain look to us to ensure fair pay, good conditions, job security, a comfortable retirement and access to training and skills, particularly as we strive towards a just transition.

“Legislation is not the end we seek, but the means with which to achieve higher union density and higher collective bargaining coverage to bring about fairness. As a movement, we must be ready to demonstrate to workers, particularly young workers and those in non-unionised industries, the value of trade union membership.”

The TUC Congress supported three motions by Nautilus, one titled 'Deliver freedom of association and prevent another P&O Ferries scandal,' another on to supporting maritime employment and reversing decline in the merchant navy, and an emergency motion to support RFA members.