News.Scotland.Org

Scotland, Mar 6: Demanding pay hike the coastguard staffs are staging strike to express their demand for a salary hike. It is the first strike of its kind in the history of Coast Guard. The strike will affect Mayday and distress calls. It is notable that Coastguards provide vital emergency services.

According to Public and Commercial Services union at least 700 Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) employees are expected to participate in the 24 hours strike.
The current pay scale is dubbed by the staffs as “poverty pay”.

While the manager opines that they are affected by the low salary. Emergency measures have been taken to ensure public safety. The Chief executive of the MCA, Peter Cardy assured that the Mayday calls, 999 calls and automatic distress calls will not be affected by the strike. He also said that the pay scale of the coastguard is lower when compared to emergency service but the mode of work is completely different.

The union demands for an extra £3,000 to the current basic pay of £14,000 per year.
While the union’s pay co-ordinator Geoff Lewtas opined that: “It is scandal, quite obviously for an organisation that deserves great importance and is considered as the fourth emergency service with its staffs being paid low wages.”

Meanwhile the general secretary of PCS union responded that: “The members are disappointed by the refusal for a pay hike like any other emergency services. The inflation pay rises are affecting the employees to a great deal. It is better to spare a thought that Coast guards provide vital emergency services and assures the smooth conduct of shipping services in British waterscape.”

MCA said that they are liable to obey government rules concerning public sector pay.

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