Coastguards strike over pay (From Dorset Echo)
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Coastguards strike over pay
10:09am Saturday 12th April 2008 in News By Joanna Davis
PAY PROTEST: Watch manager Ros Evans with other members of the coastguard next to Weymouth Harbour Picture: GRAHAM HUNT/HG3497 Buy this photo »
MANAGERS manned emergency coastguard phone lines while workers went on strike for a second time.
Staff from the Portland Coastguard office on Weymouth harbourside were protesting at the way their pay is graded by the Government.
They took part in the national 24-hour walkout to make people aware that many of their frontline staff take home the minimum wage.
A pay deal is yet to be reached between workers and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) after last month's industrial action.
Watch manager Ros Evans said: "We're striking again because we felt we had been boxed into a corner and no one seemed to budge.
"The first strike had no effect at all and our union didn't start talking to the MCA until this week."
Pay rates show that the starting salary of a coastguard watch assistant is £12,509, compared to the £18,922 earned by a control room operator at Hampshire Fire and Rescue.
Mrs Evans said: "Our issue isn't about the pay, it's the grading of the pay. Our starting salary is graded as an administrative assistant, which is the lowest wage within the civil service.
"Those in our lowest positions who join us from school have to train for a year and take local knowledge exams. They are the people who are at the other end of the 999 calls and they do an awful lot of hard work for their minimum wage."
Staff waved placards throughout the day. A management team was drafted in during the strike to man maritime emergency phonecalls.
A rescue co-ordinator and an operations manager staffed the operation room while around 10 workers formed a picket line.
Volunteer coastguard rescue officers remained on standby and rescuers operated as normal.
Mrs Evans said: "They have provided the cover for us and we will return to work if there are any emergencies."
Three days before the strike staff operated on a restricted working system. They hope their day of action will draw more attention to their cause.
Mrs Evans added: "A lot of people do not know what coastguards do.
"They may not be aware that we are the people they see in TV shows like Seaside Rescue."
