06/03/2008
Coastguards Strike In Pay Dispute
Northern Ireland's Coastguard staff are staging a 24-hour strike today in a dispute over pay.
The walkout, which began at 7am, involves up to 700 Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) workers at 19 UK search and rescue co-ordination centres including.
The strike is being held in protest over pay levels, which the Public and Commercial Services union claims are far behind those in other emergency services.
The union said that pay rises last year averaged 2.5%, dropping to just 1% for the most experienced staff, leaving starting salaries now just over £12,000. The union has called for coastguards to receive another £3,000 on top of their current base pay of £14,000 a year.
Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the PCS union, said: "It is a scandal that pay rates are so low. Coastguards provide a vital emergency service and ensure the safety of shipping in British waters."
The MCA said that contingency plans were in place. Peter Cardy, Chief Executive of the MCA, said that Mayday calls, automatic distress calls and 999 calls would all still be answered in spite of the strike.
(KMcA/JM)
The walkout, which began at 7am, involves up to 700 Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) workers at 19 UK search and rescue co-ordination centres including.
The strike is being held in protest over pay levels, which the Public and Commercial Services union claims are far behind those in other emergency services.
The union said that pay rises last year averaged 2.5%, dropping to just 1% for the most experienced staff, leaving starting salaries now just over £12,000. The union has called for coastguards to receive another £3,000 on top of their current base pay of £14,000 a year.
Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the PCS union, said: "It is a scandal that pay rates are so low. Coastguards provide a vital emergency service and ensure the safety of shipping in British waters."
The MCA said that contingency plans were in place. Peter Cardy, Chief Executive of the MCA, said that Mayday calls, automatic distress calls and 999 calls would all still be answered in spite of the strike.
(KMcA/JM)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.