GMB has asked the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) to reveal whether any risk assessments were performed before deciding to cut renumeration for thousands of coastguards.
The union wrote to the MCA to make the request and said ‘given the vital public safety role performed by Coastguard Rescue Officers, there is a significant public interest in understanding the risks identified within the service and the measures being taken to address them’.
Coastguard Rescue Officers (CROs) are volunteers who carry out rescues and search for missing people around the UK's coast.
They have always been given hourly remuneration for attending incidents and training exercises - but the MCA has now removed the payments.
Nicola Savage, GMB National Officer, said:
“These savage cuts look like they will have a massive impact on coastguard numbers [2]
“Did the MCA consider the dangers that might cause to people's safety before ploughing ahead?
“The public has a right to know.”
