Plans to strip Coastguard Rescue Officers of payments for attending incidents and training have been paused by the Government in a significant U-turn, marking the latest chapter in a long-running dispute that began with a landmark legal challenge brought by a former Isle of Wight coastguard.
Transport Minister Keir Mather announced in Parliament today (Thursday) that the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) will halt proposals to end hourly remuneration for Coastguard Rescue Officers (CROs) attending operational incidents and mandatory training exercises.
The decision follows months of uncertainty for hundreds of volunteer Coastguard Rescue Officers across the UK, including those serving on the Isle of Wight, who had warned the proposed changes would damage recruitment, retention and frontline emergency response.
The MCA’s plans emerged after the Court of Appeal upheld a landmark ruling confirming that Coastguard Rescue Officers should be classed as workers – a case brought by former Bembridge Coastguard Rescue Officer, Martin Groom, and supported by the GMB Union.
The legal victory was widely seen as having major implications for the future employment status of Coastguard Rescue Officers nationwide.
In response, the MCA proposed ending hourly payments for incidents and training, prompting widespread concern among volunteers and a sustained campaign by GMB Union. Coastguard Rescue Officers also raised their concerns directly with senior MCA officials, while Isle of Wight East MP Joe Robertson took the issue to Westminster.
Commenting on the latest development, GMB National Officer Nicola Savage has said:
“This is a richly deserved win for GMB’s coastguards, who took their campaign across the UK and into the corridors of power.
“It was a scandal that these brave, life-saving workers would have their pay cut.
“But Ministers have listened and done the right thing.”
Joe Robertson MP has said:
“It is very welcome news that the Minister has seen sense and blocked the Maritime & Coastguard Agency’s brutal decision against its own brave frontline workers.
“The MCA’s announcement to strip pay from Coastguard Rescue Officers after more than 100 years and then misrepresent its own internal survey results was completely wrong and should never have happened. The Government now needs to look at the whole Coastguard Rescue Service model and consult fully and meaningfully with the more than 3,000 Coastguard Rescue Officers.
“Whatever decisions are finally taken, the Government must ensure that our hero CROs continue to be remunerated for the hours they put in helping to save lives and keep our coastal communities safe.
“But the Government must go further. It needs to look at the beleaguered MCA and its leadership. It is an organisation that has lost touch with the people and communities it is supposed to serve, and not just in the operation of the Coastguard.
“The Maritime & Coastguard Agency has become another example of ivory-tower decision-making and bureaucracy, with responsibility for licensing, fishing, health and safety and more. It is holding back enterprise and maritime innovation in too many areas. That has to change”.
It is not yet clear whether the MCA’s proposals have been permanently abandoned or how the pause will affect future negotiations over the employment status and remuneration of Coastguard Rescue Officers.
Well done Martin Groom and for once, I agree with Robertson about the ITS (Illegals Taxi Service), AKA the MCA.
Why are the government even considering pay cuts for essential life saving services, when they are paying out millions to waste of space deliberately self inflicted junkies and drunks. The usual begrudge the paying public for what they are paying for isn’t it? They need to learn some priorities and principles about those who are more value to the country, but of course, them never being out in the real world, they wouldn’t have a clue what the words even mean, and stop crapping on the boots of the only ones who are bringing in revenue