Coastguards win support for strike

The first stoppage in what could be a long-drawn-out wrangle with the Government over salary levels got under way on Thursday.

Officials with the Public and Commercial Services Union claimed pay levels at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) have fallen way behind other emergency services in the UK.

Pay rises last year averaged 2.5% but starting salaries were just over £12,000, according to the union.

Coastguard centres from Dover to Liverpool via Milford Haven and Swansea were just some of those taking part in the stoppage.

David Jones, 29, a watch officer with the MCA at the Swansea station, was out with colleagues, picketing the car park of the city's Coastguard station to highlight the reasons the strike was taking place.

"Morale is quite low at the moment because of the pay levels," he said. We feel we are the overlooked emergency service in this country. That is why we have taken this regrettable step to strike."

Barry Sutton, 69, of Swansea, said: "I think it is true of all the emergency services they are not paid enough. That some of these people who risk their lives for others are on the minimum wage is plainly wrong."

Mike Callaghan, 51, of Swansea, an off-duty ambulanceman, said: "I'm in the ambulance service and I know we are under-paid so the Coastguard certainly is."

The strike is the first in the Coastguard's history. Union officials estimated that up to 700 staff would be taking part.