Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Officers have voted overwhelmingly to extend their strike action for a further six months, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing dispute over pay and conditions.
According to Nautilus International, the independent trade union representing maritime professionals, 90% of voting officers supported the continuation of strikes, while 97% voted in favour of “action short of a strike.”
The vote comes after what the union describes as a “derisory” 6.5% pay offer from the Ministry of Defence (MOD), which would require officers to relinquish multiple allowances in exchange for the proposed increase.
The strike action highlights severe workforce shortages that have left over half of the RFA’s flotilla unable to operate, with key skill areas reportedly down by more than 50%. As a result, the majority of RFA vessels are now docked, unable to set sail due to a lack of safe crewing levels. Nautilus International has raised concerns over the MOD’s apparent lack of commitment to addressing the staffing crisis, which it says has left the RFA “on its knees” after more than a decade of budget cuts and underfunding.
The union’s statement underscores the growing strain on the RFA, the organisation that provides logistical and operational support to the Royal Navy. Despite ongoing strikes and the pressing need to address workforce shortages, Nautilus argues that the MOD has yet to demonstrate a serious intention to resolve the issues impacting the service.
The situation remains critical, as the RFA struggles to maintain essential support for naval operations amid what the union describes as a “crumbling service.”
6.5% Six point five percent…!!!! That is insulting, stupid, arrogant… utter fools. The Treasury – beyond words We are in a pre-war age with Russian intelligence ‘practicing’ fire bombing DHL transport planes to the US by sending devices through the carrier’s European network with a fire breaking out in a UK warehouse and other devices found in Germany and Poland. The devices had magnesium in them so if they were to go off on board a Trans Atlantic flight they would likely bring the plane down. Just when will our politicians take the threat seriously! Sooner or later there is… Read more »
Again the MOD and Government clearly out of touch and are not serious about addressing the pay issue affecting the RFA. Instead they offer an extremely low offer with a slight uplift only by sacrificing the only 2 perks that they have left. The organisation is fast becoming untenable which leaves UK dangerously exposed and the laughing stock of NATO. No longer a blue water Navy I would say these days. Time for the Government to decide what it wants from defence as its clear that this is not on the list of priorities to resolve anytime soon.
why cant they be crewed by ex-retired naval personnel, rather than retiring at 50-55. they could if they choose join the RFA and stay employed and still earn/.
or perhaps this has been tried before. and not worked, just a thought. chaps, just a thought.
Already many ex RN in RFA
Same issue as RFA, why would someone who has spent most of their adult life in the service with all the family disruption and danger involved sign up to the RFA ?If they want to go to sea again they can earn far more money with better Ts & Cs as a civilian.
Besides which if there is a war won’t they get called back up ? So back to square one.
We aren’t the only Navy with this issue the USN is struggling as well.
What an insult. Pay them properly and that would help with recruitment.
The MOD plan to have these solid store ships that require massive crews in the future. They won’t ever sail at this rate.
Exactly MS. What utter high level stupidty over the RFA. How long before some good sense, respect and some immediate to longer term thinking will prevail.
And Navantia want £300 million from HMG to rescue H&W 😡 I’m a fairly level headed bloke but I’d pay the RFA and tell Navantia nope ! Compulsory purchase the Belfast Yard and appoint them to manage it as a contractor.
Rant over !
A few months ago, HMG were asked only for a £200 million export guarantee (that is a guarantee, not handover of hard cash) to keep H&W going.
Now it would cost HMG £300 million in hard cash.
Isn’t that money for all 4 of the yards?
I am not sure what these multiple allowances are which would have to be given up in exchange for the 6.5% rise… but in my service (army) experience all our allowances were very much justified.
I bet the train drivers and the junior doctors did not have to give up anything to get their much bigger pay rise.
The RMT union has just got an undisclosed pay rise for tube drivers why aren’t they banging the drum for the RFA?
They’re represented by ASLEF
I wondered how long it would take for some rabid tory to bring up train drivers. So now settling on a below inflation rate pay “restoration” has us guilty of killing pensioners in the winter AND sabotaging the RN on the cusp of war with Russia? And those damn doctors eh? A tougher sell for you lot but I’m sure you can smear them if you keep at it. A lot of them do look *ahem* a bit brown *cough* nowadays. Can’t pay them too much, they might start moving into tory voting areas!
I always find that those screaming racist at everyone are always the most intolerant, bigoted, and racist people one comes across
Just about sums up the view on defence. Public ssector gets £19 billion. RFA gets insulted.
HMG needs to get its finger out….this could be simply sorted by spinning off RFA from civvy service into a separate entity and then giving them a decent pay rise!
The Government will probably adopt the same strategy as with Consultants. Offer them up to £200,000 PA overtime. That might get some interest.😀