COASTGUARD CUTS CAN KILL

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: may 2011 :: RMTnews 14 Unions have told MPs that government plans to cut back on coastguard centres, leaving just one in the South West, and the privatisation of rescue services would put lives at risk. The House of Commons Transport Committee took evidence on the coastguard cutback plans from PCS, RMT, Prospect and Nautilus. Under government proposals, the number of round-the-clock coastguard centres will be reduced from 18 to just three 24-hour operational centres - at Aberdeen, in the Southampton/Portsmouth area and at Dover. In addition, there will be five sub-centres open during daylight hours - at Swansea, at Falmouth in Cornwall, at Bridlington in East Yorkshire, at either Belfast or Liverpool and at either Stornoway or Shetland. Shipping minister Mike Penning has claimed that the major cutback of the coastguard would improve services. The government has not consulted staff or unions about the changes which would hit frontline services. RMT general secretary Bob Crow said that it was a shocking indictment of ConDem government. “It’s clear nothing is safe from the ConDem austerity axe – including emergency, life- saving services like the coastguards and search and rescue. “It is amazing that plans to cut our coastguards could even be considered, let alone implemented, and shows that they are quite prepared to hack away at life or death services. These proposals must be fought tooth and nail every step of the way,” he said. Shadow transport secretary Maria Eagle said: "The Tory-led government's proposal to close so many of our coastguard stations is ill-thought out madness that will leave our coastline a more dangerous place.” SAVING LIVES: A total of 8,313 people were plucked from the sea by lifeboats last year and lifeguards helped 18,775 people across UK's beaches. L eith shipping branch is up and running again after being in moth balls for years, writes national secretary Steve Todd. The branch was relaunched earlier this year and has a new branch secretary in Jim Rutherford, a Forth Ports employee from Grangemouth. New branch chairman Brian Reynolds works for Cally-Mac and is another long standing member of the union and, indeed, Leith branch. The branch has a proud history and boasts many well known names from the former NUS days in its membership, former general secretary Sam McClusky, former assistant general secretary Harry Bygate and myself, to name but a few. I am proud to have been a member of this historical branch and recall the great and lively branch meetings of the late 80's and 90's. This branch always commanded a great turnout of members and it is great to see Brian taking over the chair at last and I wish him, Jim and the branch every success for the future. The branch also has the only, former NUS and now RMT, tug boat port in the UK. There is also the big old building on the "Shore" near Leith Docks, now private flats, which was once NUS headquarters. It is hoped that now the branch is up and running, the meetings will gather momentum and they will start sending members and motions to both BGMs and AGMs and provide a service to members they deserve. Long live "Sunny Leith". COASTGUARD CUTS CAN KILL LEITH SHIPPING BRANCH RELAUNCHED Coordinated by Seafarers UK, the leading maritime welfare charity, Seafarers Awareness Week - 6-12 June - aims to highlight ‘sea blindness’, i.e. the widespread public ignorance about the UK’s dependence on seafarers. Seafarers UK is making a thought-provoking video to reveal how our ‘island nation’ would suffer if food, fuel and goods were not safely delivered everyday by ship. Social media – Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc – will be used to reach a younger audience. Triggered by the video, an interactive web TV show will be shown on media websites and there will be live radio interviews around the UK. Website: www.seafarersawarenessweek.org SEAFARERS AWARENESS WEEK TO HIGHLIGHT ‘SEA BLINDNESS’