FEARS have been raised that the Royal Navy will have to be drafted in to protect Scotland’s waters from illegal fishing after members at Marine Scotland voted in favour of industrial action in a dispute over pay.
Dubbed “Scotland’s Navy”, Marine Scotland operates marine protection vessels and research ships to patrol the seas and fisheries around the country.
Crew members have been taking part in a long-running campaign for pay equality, after discovering they are being paid thousands of pounds less than other workers. A chief steward for Marine Scotland can earn up to £29,579 a year, while at CalMac the same post is rewarded with £37,675.
Both Marine Scotland and CalMac are wholly owned by Scottish Ministers.
Industrial action could result in the Scottish Government having to call on the Royal Navy to step in and carry out the duties of Marine Scotland seafarers.
Earlier this month Unite the union expressed outrage over plans to use members of the armed forces to undermine a planned strike at the Coulport and Faslane naval bases. The action has now been called off.
The union was informed that Royal Navy personnel will be ordered in by the Ministry of Defence to carry out the duties of civilian staff who are taking part in industrial action against their employer Babcock Marine.
A series of rolling strikes at the naval bases have since been called off after union leaders reached a deal with employers.
However a new naval battle has begun after Unite said 100 per cent of its Marine Scotland members had voted in favour of industrial action in a consultative ballot.
Unite regional officer Alexander Smart said: “Our members at Marine Scotland do a difficult job, safeguarding our seas on behalf of all of us – and often spending long periods of time away from home. It is completely unfair that they are being paid less than other seafarers in the public sector.
“They want fair pay now. If they don’t get it, then industrial action is a real possibility. That would leave Scotland’s seas unprotected, with no checks on fishing vessels to make sure they are respecting quotas and net sizes.
“It would also mean that two science vessels would be tied up at dock – unable to carry out research that is used by the Scottish Government, the UK Government, and the European Union. That’s vital when it comes to setting fishing quotas. Our members want to avoid that situation – but unless there is movement from Marine Scotland and the Scottish Government to deliver fair pay, they will take action.”
In December last year the Scottish Parliament passed an amendment put forward by Scottish Labour, stating that Marine Scotland staff should receive a fair pay settlement that recognises their experience and skills.
Labour Highlands and Islands MSP Rhoda Grant said: “The Scottish Parliament has backed fair pay for Marine Scotland workers, but we still have had no movement. That is completely unacceptable. In the case of full industrial action then the navy would be needed or else it would become a free for all and that would not be good for anyone neither us or the oceans or environment.”
At present the Royal Navy has a Fisheries Protection Squadron that patrols the waters around England, Wales and Northern Ireland which could be deployed to cover Scotland if industrial action takes place.
A Marine Scotland spokesman said: “We are committed to a pay policy that is fair for all. Temporary and supplementary payments are reviewed on a regular basis to ensure staff recruitment and retention, while delivering value for money for Scotland’s taxpayers.
“Annual pay discussions between the Scottish Government and the trade unions have recently started and the parties have agreed to carry out a comparison exercise against other seafarer employers terms and conditions as part of those discussions.
“We would encourage Unite to continue to engage constructively in these discussions.”
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