Vincent Woods reports: The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) has announced their intention to take 24-hour strike action on 11th-12th April and again on 23rd-24th April. The service offered from the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) will see members withdrawing from non-essential 999 emergency duties.
Workers at the MCA overwhelmingly voted for industrial action in a dispute over low pay. This action is by those responsible for co-ordinating rescues the rescuers themselves will continue to operate as normal, however, the service will be of a more limited nature on this and other strike days.
*Helicopters will continue to fly
*The RNLI will still send out their lifeboats
*volunteer Coastguard Rescue Officers are ready in their local communities
*Out at sea, ships and craft of all types and sizes will assist others in distress as usual
The MCA is taking this opportunity to remind those going to sea for leisure purposes of the important routine safety advice they should follow everyday and that contingency planning is in place to ensure public safety is protected.
Mariners are advised to check the weather forecasts before putting to sea.
Mariners operating outside of their normal areas should check with harbour authorities for any information on local hazards.
A radio watch will still be maintained by the Coastguard on VHF Ch 16/0, MF, VHF/MF DSC with full search and rescue response on any distress/urgency calls. 999 Emergency telephone calls will be handled as normal with full SAR response on any declared emergency.
Isle of Wight Community News @Island Pulse.
[…] Maritime And Coastguard Strike. […]
By Isle of Wight News « Isle of Wight News Daily Updates from the Island Pulse. on April 10th, 2008