RFA Tidespring underway. UK MOD © Crown copyright 2024
Nautilus International, the union representing officers in the UK’s Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA), has confirmed that members will be engaging in a day of strike action tomorrow, Thursday 15th August 2024.
The unprecedented strike is a response to a government offer that the union says is falls far below the rate of inflation.
The union has been calling for a consolidated pay raise in line with inflation and a clear pathway to pay restoration. The RFA, staffed by civilian personnel and owned by the UK Ministry of Defence, plays a crucial role in providing logistical and operational support to the Royal Navy and other UK armed forces.
Nautilus members will be present near Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead, Whale Island in Portsmouth, and Portland in Dorset.
The strike follows a period of member action short of strike since June 1st. In April, members voted overwhelmingly for both action short of strike and strike action amid frustrations over an imposed 4.5% pay offer for 2023/24. The union said the offer falls significantly below the rate of inflation, equating to a real terms pay cut of over 30% since 2010, and comes alongside a recruitment and retention crisis in the service.
This marks the first time in the history of the RFA that officers will undertake strike action.
“Our members are fed up. For too long, the RFA, the Royal Navy, and the Ministry of Defence have relied on the goodwill of our members to carry out essential operations. The pay offer for 2023/24 and the real term pay cut of over 30% since 2010 has made this goodwill no longer tenable,” said Martyn Gray, Nautilus director of organising.
Gray continued, “The key message from our members is simple: they are overworked, underpaid, and undervalued. The only way to resolve this dispute is with a pay offer that recognizes the high rate of inflation and begins a pathway to pay restoration. This strike will make history, but not in a good way for an already crippled RFA. Nautilus is committed to finding a resolution as quickly as possible, but we will not allow our members to be taken for granted any longer.”
Join the gCaptain Club for curated content, insider opinions, and vibrant community discussions.
Join the 109,835 members that receive our newsletter.
Have a news tip? Let us know.
The U.S. military has carried out a precision airstrike on a key command-and-control facility operated by Iran-backed Houthi militants in Sana’a, Yemen’s capital city, according to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM)....
The European Council has extended its counter-piracy mission Operation ATALANTA for two more years, coming amid a dramatic resurgence of Somali piracy that has seen 43 incidents in the past...
Finland’s government has taken a decisive step toward modernizing its critical maritime infrastructure by supporting funding for a new Baltic Sea Class B icebreaker, marking a significant development in regional...
Access exclusive insights, engage in vibrant discussions, and gain perspectives from our CEO.
Sign Up
Maritime and offshore news trusted by our 109,835 members delivered daily straight to your inbox.
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe.
Sign Up
Join The Club
