Maritime and Coastguard Agency workers announce eight-day strike
PCS says action by workers at the Registry of Shipping and Seamen between March 20 and 27 will impact on all new vessel registrations – from jetskis to cruise liners – as well as licences for people operating commercial vessels on inland waterways and in UK coastal waters, and the registration of births and deaths at sea
They are the latest civil servants to take strike action in the union’s long-running dispute over pay, pensions, redundancy terms and job security.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “The WhatsApp messages leaked today show the contempt government ministers have for trade unions and the work we do for our members.
“The ministers concerned may have changed but their attitude remains. For months they have refused to make any meaningful offer, and the Prime Minister has refused to meet us to discuss the issues affecting his own workforce.
“Until the government puts money on the table to give our members a deserved and fair pay rise, our strike action will continue to escalate.”
PCS members are this week taking strike action at the DWP, DVLA and Land Registry. Next week there is strike action at Ofsted and DVSA (driving instructors) and on March 15 133,000 members will take action – the original 100,000 members having been joined by 33,000 more on Tuesday.