A Somerset coastguard officer has expressed deep concern about the future viability of the life-saving service amid contentious national pay cut plans.
An anonymous member of the Weston-super-Mare Coastguard Rescue Team has highlighted the challenges posed by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s (MCA) announcement to eliminate pay for training and incident responses from September for Coastguard Rescue Officers (CROs).
Though classified as volunteers, CROs have, until now, received hourly payments for responding to emergencies and attending mandatory training. However, a recent Court of Appeals ruling declared CROs to be ‘workers’ rather than volunteers, prompting the MCA to revoke these payments. Going forward, CROs will only be able to claim expenses and mileage, effectively returning them to volunteer status.
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The Weston-super-Mare officer explained, “Every Coastguard Rescue Officer volunteers because they want to help people. We’re not in it for the money. The small payments recognize the time we commit to training and emergency responses, which often come at a moment’s notice, day or night. Our worry is not about losing pay itself but the impact on recruitment and retention, which are already difficult.”
Covering an extensive stretch from Clevedon to Burnham-on-Sea, the team of 14 responds to roughly 120 incidents annually. The local coastline is notably hazardous due to the Bristol Channel’s fast and high-rising tides, one of the world’s highest tidal ranges.
The officer said, “Weston-super-Mare attracts millions of visitors yearly, and our team is always ready to help anyone in trouble along the shore. We are proud of our service and want to ensure future generations continue to have a strong, reliable Coastguard Rescue Service.”
Nationally, many CROs have criticized the Court of Appeals decision as lacking proper consultation and have launched an online campaign urging the government to pause the proposed changes. They seek a collaborative solution to safeguard the service’s future without undermining their vital role.
In response, the MCA said last month, “Following legal guidance, we are shifting to a revised volunteer model to protect the service’s future. This approach maintains flexibility and enables volunteers to balance their roles alongside full-time employment. We value the vital contribution of Coastguard Rescue Officers and will support them through this transition. The Coastguard Rescue Service remains committed to delivering effective search and rescue operations with the highest safety standards.”