SOS sent out over job cuts and closures

Coastguard staff believe that the government’s intended job cuts and station closure programme will put the public at risk.

In a ballot of staff, conducted by the PCS public and commercial services union, 86% of the 570 PCS members who were balloted indicated that they have no confidence that, following the cuts, the safety of the public will be protected.

Additionally, all but 1% of respondents to the ballot called for full and open consultation to take place. PCS argues that as the government’s strategy is being finalised behind closed doors, there has, therefore, been no meaningful consultation.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has an open “consultation” concerning plans to shed more than 140 coastguard jobs — even though coastguard staff are the lowest paid emergency service workers. The MCA also proposes closing eight coastguard stations — Brixham, Swansea, Portland, Liverpool, Clyde, Forth, Yarmouth and Thames.

The latest consultation has been condemned, even though it is an improvement on one which was withdrawn following a campaign that had support from the public and in parliament.

Mark Serwotka, general secretary of PCS, said the union has very serious concerns they will put lives at risk. “The government should heed these concerns, scrap the plans and sit down with us to talk about how to develop a safe, reliable and professional coastguard service for the future, ” he said.