Despite the country’s general
election, the UK’s powerful trade union Nautilus said it has decided to proceed
with a job action . Parliament officially dissolved one minute after
midnight on Thursday, May 30, signally the start of a five-week run up to
voting on July 4, but according to the union, the action was necessary over a
long-running pay dispute.
The pay dispute began last fall after both Nautilus, which
represents RFA officers, and the RMT (National Union of Rail, Maritime and
Transport Workers) which represents employees in the deck, engine,
communications, and catering areas, rejected government offers for pay
increases.
The
union reported the government imposed a 4.5 percent pay increase this year.
Nautilus has called for a consolidated pay rise that reflects the high rate of
inflation and a pathway to pay restoration. They allege in real terms the
members have experienced a pay cut of over 30 percent since 2010 due to
inflation and meager raises or pay freezes.
They point out that the Royal Navy received a five percent pay increase this
year while also alleging that the ranks of the RFA are down 28 percent since
2015.
RFA members are civilian employees
who operate the supply and logistics ships for the Royal Navy. Formed in 1905, the fleet consists
of 13 vessels including tankers and supply ships. There are approximately 1,750
individuals classed as civil servants in the RFA according to the RMT. They
work four-month tours at sea.
The union in mid-May, before Prime
Minister Rishi Sunak accelerated the elections to July 4, said that the RFA
officers would begin their job action on June 1. They are emphasizing that this is an
“action short of a strike,” where the members will “not provide cover or act in
a capacity above or below their job title.” The officers will only undertake
work responsibilities commensurate with their job title according to Nautilus.
Today, they reported the action will proceed as scheduled despite the
elections.
Two
weeks ago, on May 19, the RMT conducted a full strike for one day that Sunday
involving all the ships in port, including Birkenhead, Portland, Plymouth, and
Falmouth. Both unions said their actions
were because, after a series of talks between the unions and the government, no
credible offer had been made.
"This
decision to take industrial action has not been taken lightly but underlines
the strength of feeling of members at the RFA who are overworked, underpaid,
and undervalued,” said Nautilus International Director of Organising Martyn
Gray. "It is incumbent on all political parties to use this election
period to affirm their support for our national defense and the Royal Fleet
Auxiliary by committing to a pay rise reflective of the rate of inflation and
restoring the pay our members have lost over the last decade.”
Nautilus says it will seek to work
with whoever forms the next government to find a solution, but notes its strike
mandate remains active until October. They threatened “If a solution is
not forthcoming in the early stages of a new government further action will be
taken."
The
Sunak government recently outlined its plans to build new vessels for the RFA.
Members of the government however were also quoted as saying the RFA would have
to evolve to reflect the changing defense environment of the 21st
century.