Jayne Kirkham, the Labour MP for Truro and Falmouth, raised a written question on 9 October 2024 concerning the ongoing industrial action involving the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA).
Her question asked the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to assess the impact of the strikes on the RFA, the Royal Navy, and the Royal Marines, and to outline the steps being taken to resolve the dispute.
Responding on behalf of the MOD, Luke Pollard, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, stated: “The Ministry of Defence (MOD) continues to engage with the Maritime Trade Unions (MTUs), who represent members of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA), to discuss a resolution to the ongoing RFA pay dispute.”
He also mentioned the MOD’s approach of employing a whole force model that integrates military, civilian, and contracted personnel.
Pollard added: “We continue to proactively collaborate with our stakeholders and partners to sustain outputs whilst discussions with the MTUs remain ongoing.”
The RFA, which plays a crucial role in providing logistical and replenishment support to Royal Navy operations, has been impacted by strikes since early 2024.
The core of the dispute involves demands from unions, including Nautilus International and the RMT, for pay increases that keep pace with inflation, as they argue that real-term wages have fallen over recent years. Industrial actions such as work slowdowns and strikes have taken place, including a notable one-day strike in August 2024.
Pollard noted that while the MOD continues its efforts to resolve the pay dispute, they are also focused on mitigating the impact of strike action to maintain the Royal Navy’s operational readiness. He highlighted the importance of ensuring the continuity of vital maritime commitments even as negotiations progress.
Just pay them a working wage with benefits that will recruit and retain good seamen / women. Stop pissing around.
Exactly
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Agreed. Labour paid the train drivers and doctors quickly enough…
Also, Navy Lookout are reporting that Fort Victoria is to be laid up hence the Norwegian supply ship…
RFA close to total collapse. Madness.
CR
Yeah, I read about Fort Victoria. Also galling about the train drivers. I have a friend who drives freight trains, £60k plus a year!
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£60k isn’t the issue – sounds about right to me.
It is the knocking on £80k + gold plated pensions that is the issue for most people.
And I do appreciate that freight is a bit different – different companies etc etc.
Not to mention that the Doctors’ and Railways’ pay deals cost billions… giving the RFA everything they want would cost millions. In fact, it would cost less than a third of the overspend on Manchester’s town hall renovations.
Exactly.
It is a market rates job.
Don’t pay market rates then don’t expect to have any employees. Simples.
Usual fluff.
You, HMG, were quick enough to pay train drivers who are on a very good wage.
You also reached a pay deal with the forces, and then Grandstanded over it…..even though it is not new money and comes from within existing budget!
Stop the spin and deal with it, Starmer and Healey.
Till then, for all your words, you are failing defence just like the previous government.
Hi M8 Oh the irony of it, I’d have thought it would be “slam dunk” for them getting a decent rise, given who their Union Rep is,
Yep they are all in the RMT (Rail, Maritime and Transport Union), I’d have thought one glair from Mick Lynch would have done the trick.
I just cant understand it, surely he would be keen to help the Nations Defence 🧐
That they are RMT, like me, has occurred to me before.
Lynch, from what he’s said before he’s a raving Trot more likely to want to disarm the nation than defend it.
True story, my Wife went to an RMT union rep training course once. She walked out.
The briefer was raving on about being offended at the term “Great Britain” and preferring “Britain”
The poison and loathing in them is THAT deep.