Revealed: Halting payments risks exodus of Coastguard Rescue Officers
Halting payments to coastguard rescue officers threatens an exodus from the Scottish emergency service, GMB warns.
The union spoke out after a staff survey of Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) workers revealed 40 per cent of rescue officers in Scotland will leave or reduce their hours without remuneration for call-outs and training.
The agency is under escalating pressure to reverse the plan as critics warn it needlessly risks a crucial emergency service saving lives around the coastline.
It comes months after an Employment Tribunal ruling that secured workers’ rights for the volunteer teams was upheld on appeal.
The union and politicians representing coastal communities have warned the plan to “fire and rehire” 3500 CROs as volunteers will sabotage the service as CROs will either leave the service or dramatically reduce the time spent on call-outs.
The MCA polled workers on the proposed changes to assess the impact of the proposal to halt the £11 an hour payment for call-outs and training.
The Agency’s under-fire chief executive, Virginia McVea, claimed the staff survey had shown overwhelming support for the change.
However, it reveals that across Scotland’s seven coastguard stations, two out of five CROs (40%) will leave the service or reduce their commitment if remuneration is withdrawn. In some stations, more than half rescue officers fear they will not continue without payment. The results reflect similar concerns across stations in England and Wales.
GMB, representing the rescue officers, warned the MCA’s decision to press ahead despite being told of the risk to the service is “needless, reckless and potentially calamitous.”
Louise Gilmour, GMB Scotland secretary, said: “The Maritime and Coastguard Agency asked rescue officers what this decision would mean and were told it would mean disaster.
“It beggars belief that, despite that, it seems intent on inflicting an entirely avoidable act of self-harm that will sabotage such a crucial emergency service.
“These trained and committed workers do not it for the money but the money allows them to do it.
“The MCA clearly knows the price of everything and the value of nothing but must urgently review then reverse this decision.”
Scottish MPs joined a debate on the issue at Westminster last week led by Alistair Carmichael, the MP for Orkney and Shetland, while 54 MSPs hae written to Keir Mather, the maritime minister, urging him to review the decision.
