Coastguard staff working to rule

Coastguard staff are due to stage a second 24-hour walkout

Hundreds of coastguard staff across the UK are working to rule in the run-up to the start of their second walkout in two months over pay.

Union representatives said staff were dealing with emergency calls only until the planned 24-hour strike on Friday.

All 19 of the UK's rescue centres have been affected by the action.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said the work to rule policy was causing disruption to services but they were "not insurmountable".

But it said the date of the strike had been chosen to cause "maximum disruption" as it would be held during the busy yachting season.

It is not acceptable for people who play a crucial role in saving lives to be put just above the minimum wage Alex Flynn, PCS

In a statement it said: "Contingency plans are now being drawn up by senior managers to lessen the risks, but the MCA remain very concerned by this unnecessary and potentially life- threatening action.

"We would encourage the unions to return to the negotiating table at the very earliest opportunity."

The union wants coastguard staff to get another �3,000 on top of their current base pay of �14,000 a year.

Alex Flynn, spokesman for the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), said administrative work such as writing reports and dealing with emails would not be carried out during the "work to rule" policy.

He said: "It is a case of trying to put pressure on the employer and on the government.

"What we hope is that the MCA and the government ultimately will sit up and recognise that this isn't an issue which will go away and it is not acceptable for people who play a crucial role in saving people's lives to be put just above the minimum wage.

"If they want to retain skilled staff then they need to start paying them wages which are comparable with colleagues in the other emergency services."

In March, almost half the 19 rescue centres were forced to close during the 24-hour strike.

Union members have planned a third strike, due to take place on 24 April.

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