HANDS OFF ROYAL FLEET AUXILIARY

RMT helpline 0800 3763706 :: february 2010 :: RMTnews 12 RMT has launched a campaign against privatisation the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) fleet, the navy’s lifeline delivering fuel, food and other essential material including humanitarian aid to disaster-stricken areas. RFA Largs Bay is currently being loaded with desperately needed material aid to Haiti as RMT goes to press. Yet up to 20 private shipping companies are in talks with the Ministry of Defence with a view to participating in the privatisation of Royal Fleet Auxiliary operations. Currently, RFA crews on sixteen ships provide specialist civilian support for the Royal Navy under the auspices of the Ministry of Defence. The Treasury has announced that the role of the RFA is to be considered as part of the Treasury’s Operational Efficiency Review. Clearly the danger is that a decision will be made to privatise this operation and outsource the services currently performed by RFA to competitive tender and private operation. The companies will no doubt tell the Ministry of Defence that they can undercut the existing RFA crew and ship costs. Privatisation supporters point out that RFA ships typically carry specially trained crews that are twice as large as equivalent commercial vessels. They also believe costs could be drastically cut by following the commercial sector and shedding UK ratings in favour of low paid foreign ratings in a process known as social dumping. The Treasury has formally stated that it will examine the current arrangements for delivering maritime operational support through the RFA. RMT has been informed that the union will be part of the Review Group which will consider the issue in detail and that no judgements have been made. Initially the Review Group will consider the relationship between the number of ships RFA run, their existing tasks and how they should be designed and trained to operate and the actual costs. There will also be ship visits which RMT hopes will demonstrate the operational complexity and the integrated nature of RFA work. RMT remains committed to playing a full role in arguing the union’s case within the Review Group. However should the Ministry of Defence seek to privatise the functions of RMT members, or threaten their jobs and conditions, the union will mount a vigorous campaign in opposition. The arguments that will be deployed will include the following: • Under Flexible Global Reach an extensive review was carried out just over three years ago and this concluded in 2007 with the result that an evolved RFA was judged as best suited to continue to provide support for the Royal Navy. • The Flexible Global Reach Study concluded that the commercial options should not be taken forward as they failed to provide the operational capability required. • RFA crew have consistently taken on new roles and responsibilities to match the changing requirements of the times, for example with specialist training in such areas as helicopters, fire- fighting and damage control, use of self-defence systems, specialist navigation and warfare, naval communications and command systems. • The seafarers have also embraced changes in occupational status which have allowed greater scope for operational activity whilst still preserving merchant navy categorization, and allowing an exchange of expertise and specialist skills. • The future of RFA is inextricably linked with the future of UK seafarers. RFA is the largest employer of UK seafarers, employing a total of 2,500 seafaring ratings and officers with secure training and employment. A threat to the future of RFA would therefore undermine the DfT objective of developing and retaining UK maritime skills. • RFA personnel have consistently demonstrated professionalism, expertise, dedication and flexibility. They demonstrate the value in retaining and developing a specialist civilian crewed fleet to provide strategic support for the armed forces. For an island nation it is strategically wise to preserve this vital resource. Further meetings of the Review Group will be taking place in the next few months. In the meantime RMT will, alongside RMT Parliamentary Group, be making representations direct to the relevant Minister. HANDS OFF ROYAL FLEET AUXILIARY RMT campaigns against privatisation of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary fleet RFA ON HAITI MISSION AID: RFA ship Largs Bay being loaded at Marchwood military port in Southampton with vital aid and supplies as part of the international relief effort in Haiti. It will carry 40 Land Rovers for charity personnel to reach the worst affected areas, shelter materials and support equipment such as forklift trucks to help rebuild the port. Largs is a dedicated amphibious supply ship which means that it can use onboard powered rafts to discharge aid to a beach if necessary.