Coastguards involved in life-saving operations are seeing a glimmer of hope that proposed pay cuts could be abandoned. Those who engage in crucial missions while on leave from their main jobs receive £11 per hour for emergency call-outs. However, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) plans to eliminate these payments following a court ruling deeming such activities as “work.”
Meetings scheduled for Monday, where coastguards were expected to be informed that their pay would cease, were abruptly canceled on Friday. The decision came after significant pressure and protests against the proposed changes. The GMB union urged the MCA to reconsider its stance.
Nicola Savage, GMB’s National Officer, expressed concern over the treatment of coastguards, labeling it as cruel and unjust. The Mirror initiated the ‘Save Lives for Sam’ campaign to enhance water safety following a series of drownings, including the tragic case of 16-year-old Sam Haycock. Among the campaign’s demands are mandatory water survival lessons in schools and the implementation of ‘Sam’s Law’ for safety equipment around high-risk water bodies.
The MCA spokesperson stated that Monday’s meetings were put on hold to allow for further feedback consideration. Acknowledging the valuable service provided by Coastguard Rescue Officers, the MCA is exploring a revised volunteer model while engaging with the GMB for a mutually agreeable resolution.
A legal judgment in May 2024 classified a former Coastguard Rescue Officer as a ‘worker’ during paid activities, leading to the decision to transition the Coastguard Rescue Service to a volunteer-based model with expense reimbursements. Coastguards gathered in Westminster last week to demand the reinstatement of emergency call-out payments, citing plummeting morale.
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