SEAFARERS are set to march against poverty pay in Portsmouth on Saturday.

Members of transport union RMT will be protesting at Portsmouth International Port against Condor Ferries, which holds the government contract to run lifeline ferry services between Portsmouth, Poole and the Channel Islands.

Condor, which is owned by the Australian bank Macquarie, employs “international crew” who live on vessels through the length of temporary contracts on rates well below the national minimum wage.

As the contract is up for renewal this year, the union is demanding that Condor must become a Living Wage employer and pay workers £9.75 an hour if they are to regain running the ferry services.

They are also demanding union recognition for the RMT to negotiate for seafarer ratings.

Union general secretary Mick Cash said: “UK and Channel Island seafarers cannot and should not have to compete with poverty pay rates on these ships of shame.”