Christmas headache for the Royal Navy

Tug crews are preparing for strike action after Serco announced a change in their working patterns, reports the Maritime Executive. The changes could mean a loss of annual leave allocations for the 40 tractor-tug operatives and disrupt their present pattern of one-week on and one-week off.

The changes are being heavily criticised and Unite said its members are “extremely angry and ready to fight” against the changes, and that they fear dangerously increased fatigue-levels. The crews help manoeuvre a range of RN vessels, including nuclear submarines. They also say that moving to the proposed three-weeks on, three-weeks off rota will adversely affect their home lives.

The action will take place from 25^th December to 30^th December, and Unite’s members say that if the first strike does not bring the desired results, they will stage a second on 11^th January. Being able to move its vessels around the port is an essential capability, and the Royal Navy will surely not look favourably upon its contractor for the loss of such an essential service.