Yorkshire Coast MP and Trade Union Call on Coastguard Boss to Consider Position After 'Debacle'

Coastguards and the MP for Scarborough and Whitby have formally called for a vote of no confidence in the Maritime and Coastguard Agency's chief executive following a controversial dispute over pay.

Coastguards have called for a formal vote of no confidence after plans to stop their pay being cut were overturned.

The GMB union’s coastguard members have formally expressed their “lack of confidence in the leadership of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) under chief executive Virginia McVea”.

In an open letter to Lord Simon Stevens, coastguard rescue officers called on the board of the MCA to undertake an independent review of the concerns, including a “perceived failure to adequately engage with and listen to the experiences and concerns of coastguard rescue officers” and “insufficient transparency in decision-making processes affecting frontline personnel.

Earlier this month, the MCA announced that it would halt its controversial plan to strip coastguard officers of their hourly pay for attending incidents and training exercises.

It came as more than half of the coastguards in Yorkshire and Humberside said they would be forced to reduce their hours or stop volunteering altogether if the scheme to make coastguards volunteers rather than paid workers went ahead.

The MP for Scarborough and Whitby, Alison Hume, has also urged Ms McVea to “review her position in the light of this debacle”.

The coastguards’ letter states:

“This letter is submitted in the interests of maintaining public confidence in the Agency, protecting the wellbeing of coastguard rescue officers (CROs), and ensuring that the MCA continues to fulfil its responsibilities to maritime safety, emergency response, and the communities it serves.

“The basis for this expression of no confidence relates to concerns regarding the treatment, management, support, and engagement of CROs. In particular, we believe there has been a significant deterioration in confidence between frontline CROs and senior leadership, resulting in damage to morale, retention, trust, and operational effectiveness.

“Ultimately, public protection is the key consideration. CROs provide an important layer of resilience that supports frontline operations and contributes directly to the protection of communities.”

It added:

“A decline in CRO numbers and experience levels could reduce the organisation’s ability to respond effectively to emergencies, increasing risk to life, property, and the wider community. As such, any decision to remove remuneration should be subject to a robust assessment of the associated risks and the potential consequences for public safety and organisational resilience.

“This letter is submitted in good faith and in the belief that strong governance requires concerns of this nature to be openly examined and addressed. We would welcome acknowledgement of receipt and information regarding any process through which these concerns will be considered.”

Nicola Savage, GMB National Officer, said:

“These workers are the face of HM Coastguard in communities across the United Kingdom.

“They give their time, skills, and commitment to save lives across the country.

“But they need to feel backed to the hilt by the MCA and, under Ms McVea’s stewardship, they don’t.

“Given the farce of the remuneration payments, coastguards feel a fresh start is the only way to reinstate that trust.”

Alison Hume, the MP for Scarborough and Whitby, previously said:

“The Maritime and Coastguard Agency made a poor and rushed decision following a court ruling which, if implemented, would have decimated our cherished 999 emergency service.

“I’ve met Coastguard Rescue Officers across my constituency and I pledged I would fight for them. They deserve a management who values them.”

She added:

“Having previously met MCA Chief Executive Virginia McVea, who vigorously defended the MCA’s decision and inferred it was supported by the majority of CROs, I would suggest Ms McVea should now review her position in the light of this debacle.”