The ferry dispute shows no sign of abating as RMT union announced it will take strike action again.
Members on Argyll Ferries, the sister company of CalMac, which operates the Dunoon to Gourock route, will strike on Friday July 10.
They voted nearly 95% in favour of action on an 83% turn out.
The dispute is similar to the one on CalMac’s ferry operations.
The union is demanding job security and insisting on no compulsory redundancies, changes to conditions or pensions without agreement of the union.
With the separate CalMac dispute itself unresolved RMT confirmed that, following the rock solid support for strike action last week, members will be out again on Friday July 10 along with Argyll Ferries workers.
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said: “Despite the most strenuous efforts to negotiate a settlement on CalMac we are still not getting the clear assurances that we seek that will defend the safety-critical jobs and working conditions that go hand in hand with delivering safe and efficient lifeline ferry services to the communities that we serve. It is a cold hard fact that privatisation is all about a race to the bottom in order to maximise profits and our members will not sit back while they are caught in the crossfire of the tendering process.
“Our members on Argyll Ferries now find themselves staring down the barrel of exactly those same kind of attacks on jobs and working conditions and have delivered a massive and rock-solid mandate for action.
“RMT urges the people of Scotland to remain resolute in their support for the workforce in both these disputes – our fight is your fight.”
CalMac managing director, Martin Dorchester said: “We are extremely disappointed that the RMT has chosen to continue with strike action.The best way to protect the existing terms and conditions of its members is to work with us to ensure we win the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service contract and this action is damaging.
“We are anxious to avoid any more disruption which is not in the best interests of our employees and the communities we serve and would urge all our colleagues to turn out for work.”