THE lack of urgency of the Scottish Government to address the CalMac dispute is a worry to many who rely on the lifeline ferry services provided by this company ("Talks hope to solve ferry firm pensions dispute", The Herald, June 30).
The Scottish Government would have known well in advance when the tender process was happening yet it seems as if the Government, and the Transport Minister in particular, has let this situation develop. It's almost as if they wanted the strike to happen to try to put the CalMac workforce in a bad light with commuters.
I may be overly cynical but the decision by Transport Minister, Derek Mackay, to bring in an "independent" committee to oversee the tender process is also a great concern. It seems as if he is laying the foundation for having someone else to blame when the Scottish Government decides that CalMac will lose the contract.
This whole tender process should have been handled differently - after all, that's what the SNP said in 2005 when the former Labour/LibDem administration went through a similar process.
If CalMac loses the ferry service then I think there will be a lot of SNP MSPs looking for alternative employment . I hope Mr Mackay will be one of them.
Kevin Allison,
3 Finnie Terrace,
Gourock.
ONE cheaper way to get your car on the CalMac ferries (Letters, July 1) is for you to drive it on and someone to pick it up at the other end. CalMac must be the only ferry company that charges for the car and then charges extra for the driver - insane.
Steve Barnet,
Broom Park,
Gargunnock.
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