Almost 600 Coastguards across the UK have backed a vote of no confidence in the chief executive of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), as a union escalates concerns about the organisation’s leadership.
GMB Union says 580 Coastguards have now signed up to the no confidence vote concerning MCA Chief Executive, Virginia McVea.
The development follows a letter sent by the union to MCA chair Lord Stevens in July, in which it said it wanted to ‘formally express our lack of confidence in the leadership of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency under Chief Executive Virginia McVea’.
According to GMB, Lord Stevens has yet to respond to the union; therefore, a further letter has now been sent to formally escalate the concerns previously raised.
The union is calling for an expression of no confidence in the chief executive, alongside an independent review into leadership culture at the agency.
It also wants Coastguards to be given the opportunity to submit evidence to the review and is seeking a clear timetable for responding to the concerns raised.
Nicola Savage, GMB National Officer, has said:
“These life-saving workers have already told Lord Stevens in no uncertain terms they are unhappy with the chief exec.
Article continues below this advertisement “It’s pretty disrespectful they haven’t yet had a response – but hopefully the hundreds of signatures on the vote of no confidence might give him a bit of a nudge.
“Coastguards give their time, skills and even risk their lives to keep people safe.
“They need to know their boss is right behind them – and after the shambles of the renumeration payments, that’s just not how they feel about Ms McVea.”
