RFA In General

A civilian-manned fleet owned by the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence
User avatar
Pelican
Posts: 9736
Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2018 10:10 pm

RFA In General

Unread post by Pelican »

20 June 2019

RMT Press Office:

RMT confirms action by Royal Navy lifeline workers in fight for "fair pay for RFA"

Maritime union RMT confirmed today that it will be embarking upon a programme of industrial action involving nearly 700 workers at the Royal Fleet Auxiliary – the Royal Navy supply lifeline – in a fight for pay justice.

Despite repeated efforts by the union to reach a negotiated solution the employers have instead opted to impose a 1.5% increase, undermining the living standards of a crucial group of workers who have seen service in major trouble spots, including the Falklands and the Gulf, at huge personal risk.

In a ballot of members over the derisory 1.5% offer there was an overwhelming vote for action signalling the strength of feeling amongst the workforce as we now move to into the campaign of industrial action .

Consequently, with effect from 00:01 hours on Tuesday 2nd July 2019, until further notice, RFA members are instructed:-

Not to come back early from End of Voyage Leave , to join at the correct time and not to volunteer to extend if asked by the company.
Only to conduct Maritime and Coastguard Agency mandatory safety drills and not to take part in prism serials or any RFA specific drills. This would include any serials undertaken by FOST staff
Work contracted hours, not to carry out any work over and above contracted hours unless responding to emergencies.
Catering grade members are not to prepare any food for any social functions i.e. Cocktail parties and social gatherings for ships coming out of refits and stewards should refuse to work these social functions.
Not to carry out duties that would have been carried out by members of other departments taking industrial action.
Members who are participating in humanitarian and/or disaster relief operations or are reacting to a military conflict situation will be exempt from the above industrial action.

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said:

“It is disgraceful that our Royal Fleet Auxiliary members, staff delivering the supplies life-line to the Royal Navy that is crucial to our national safety and security, have had a derisory pay increase imposed on them which doesn’t even keep pace with the cost of living. That amounts to a pay cut in real terms and is wholly unacceptable and that is why we are now moving to a programme of industrial action.

“RMT will not stand by while RFA staff are denied basic pay justice. The union has launched a “Fair Pay for RFA” campaign and we have had fantastic public and political support for this essential group of workers. We remain available for genuine and meaningful talks.”

Ends.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
HMS Pelican 1938 - 1958 GGCV L86 U86 F86 What I Have I Hold ~ A wonderful bird is the Pelican its beak can hold more than its belly can.
User avatar
Little h
Posts: 1727
Joined: Sun Aug 12, 2018 6:53 pm

Re: RFA In General

Unread post by Little h »

No mention of Industrial Action by the Union representing RFA Officers - they must already be enjoying Fair Pay in the RFA !!

---------------------------------

Collective bargaining agreement

Nautilus International has a collective bargaining (recognition) agreement with the RFA

On RFA vessels, the personnel most likely to be Nautilus members are shipmasters and ship's officers (navigation and engineering). Other members of the Union work as systems engineers, or in roles such as logistics and supply management.

Nautilus does not take RFA ratings as members, as another union has a recognition agreement covering this group.
Little h
User avatar
Little h
Posts: 1727
Joined: Sun Aug 12, 2018 6:53 pm

Re: RFA In General

Unread post by Little h »

Early Day Motions

House of Commons
FAIR PAY FOR THE ROYAL FLEET AUXILIARY'S MERCHANT SEAFARERS
EDM #2365

Tabled 07 May 2019
2017-19 Session
That this House recognises the strategic significance to the UK of the near 2000 merchant seafarers employed on the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) who re-fuel, re-arm and re-supply Royal Navy ships wherever they are in the world;

notes that successive freezes, cuts and restraint since 2008-09 have seriously undermined pay for civilian Ratings and Officers in the RFA;

further notes that significant cuts have been made to pension and redundancy rights for RFA seafarers in the same period;

is concerned that these policies are now affecting morale, as well as recruitment and retention of merchant seafarers in the RFA;

welcomes a total of 2.9 per cent increase in Royal Navy pay in 2018-19;

notes the below inflation of 1.5 per cent settlement imposed on RFA's merchant seafarers for the same year;

supports the RMT trade union's campaign for fair pay for RFA seafarers; pays tribute to the memory of the seventeen merchant Navy seafarers who died on the Atlantic Conveyor and the RFA ships Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram during the Falklands conflict in 1982;

and calls on the Government to take immediate steps to improve industrial relations in the RFA by agreeing to a meaningful increase in pay for RFA's civilian seafarers 2019-20.
Signatures (28)

--------------------------------

Signatories can be found by opening the link provided.
Last edited by Little h on Thu Jun 20, 2019 8:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Little h
User avatar
Little h
Posts: 1727
Joined: Sun Aug 12, 2018 6:53 pm

Re: RFA In General

Unread post by Little h »

Seems the lot of RFA Ratings has not been a happy one for a good while now.

----------------------------------


Early Day Motions

House of Commons
As this motion is using historical data, we may not have the record of the original ordering, in which case signatories are listed alphabetically.

ROYAL FLEET AUXILIARY

EDM #896

Tabled 27 June 2000
1999-00 Session

That this House regrets the dispute that has arisen between ratings and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary;

notes that ratings suffer from inferior shore leave to that enjoyed by officers;

recognises that despite the industrial action short of strike action being undertaken - only when vessels are securely moored in safe berths - ships involved in military conflict and humanitarian actions, such as Sierra Leone, have been exempted from such action;

regrets the threat that ratings may be subjected to deductions from pay or ordered to leave their ships if it is decided by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary not to accept partial performance of duties;

calls upon the Secretary of State for Defence to withdraw the threat of such actions;

and urges a speedy resolution of the dispute so that ratings are offered parity of leave with officers.
Signatures (30)

------------------------------

Signatories can be found by opening the link provided.
Little h
User avatar
Little h
Posts: 1727
Joined: Sun Aug 12, 2018 6:53 pm

Re: RFA In General

Unread post by Little h »

On a different note:-

----------------------------------

Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology - IMarEST

Defined Routes to Membership & Registration

UK Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Defined Route for Royal Fleet Auxiliary Personnel

IMarEST recognises that the training offered to Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel is amongst the best in the world.

Consequently, under the licence authority vested in it by the Engineering Council and its own Royal Charter, and in partnership with the RFA, the IMarEST has created a special process for Engineer (E/SE) Officers and Ratings to apply for IMarEST Professional Membership and Registration as a Chartered Engineer/Chartered Marine Engineer (CEng, CMarEng), Incorporated Engineer/Incorporated Marine Engineer (IEng/IMarEng), and Engineering Technician/Marine Engineering Technician (EngTech/MarEngTech) depending on their level of experience. RFA Deck Officers and Ratings and RFA Logistic Supply Officer and Ratings have special processes to apply for IMarEST Professional Membership and Registration as a Chartered Marine Technologist (CMarTech), Registered Marine Technologist (RMarTech), and Marine Technician (MarTech) depending on their level of experience.

The IMarEST’s defined route to membership and registration requires only the completion of a short application form, confirmation of RFA qualifications and copies of academic certificates and the successful completion of a Professional Review Interview.
Little h
User avatar
Pelican
Posts: 9736
Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2018 10:10 pm

Re: RFA In General

Unread post by Pelican »

RMT: Royal Fleet Auxiliary workers taking industrial action over pay

Britain’s maritime union RMT confirmed that a program of industrial action involving nearly 700 workers at the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) – the Royal Navy supply lifeline – in a fight for pay justice goes ahead today.

RMT has criticized the Tory Government for interfering in the pay negotiations, forcing the employer to impose a 1.5% increase, undermining the living standards of a group of workers who have seen service in major trouble spots, including the Falklands and the Gulf, at huge personal risk.

Consequently, with effect from 00:01 hours on July 2, 2019, until further notice, RFA members are instructed not to come back early from End of Voyage Leave, to join at the correct time and not to volunteer to extend if asked by the company.

In addition, RFA members have been asked only to conduct Maritime and Coastguard Agency mandatory safety drills and not to take part in prism serials or any RFA specific drills. This would include any serials undertaken by FOST staff.

They have been also instructed to work contracted hours, not to carry out any work over and above contracted hours unless responding to emergencies.

Furthermore, RFA catering grade members are not to prepare any food for any social functions for ships coming out of refits and stewards should refuse to work these social functions, according to RMT.

RFA members are also instructed not to carry out duties that would have been carried out by members of other departments taking industrial action.

Members who are participating in humanitarian and/or disaster relief operations or are reacting to a military conflict situation will be exempt from the above industrial action.

“From the Falklands to the Gulf the RFA is the navy lifeline and those working within it deserve far better than this kick in the teeth from the Tories. The Government should lift the pay cap and allow us to negotiate a fair settlement with the employer,” Mick Cash, RMT General Secretary, said.

“RMT will not stand by while RFA staff are denied basic pay justice. The union has launched a “Fair Pay for RFA” campaign… We remain available for genuine and meaningful talks.”

From: https://navaltoday.com/2019/07/02/rmt-r ... 9_Z4V6zJJs
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
HMS Pelican 1938 - 1958 GGCV L86 U86 F86 What I Have I Hold ~ A wonderful bird is the Pelican its beak can hold more than its belly can.
User avatar
Pelican
Posts: 9736
Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2018 10:10 pm

Re: RFA In General

Unread post by Pelican »

RFA’S FLAG FLIES ON ITS MOST HALLOWED WRECK AS DIVERS HONOUR THE DARKDALE
20 August 2015
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s standard has been raised on its most sacred site for the first time in nearly 74 years.

The Blue Ensign was hoisted on the wreck of the tanker Darkdale off St Helena after a successful operation to remove tonnes of oil trapped in it.

Nearly 140 feet below the surface of the mid-Atlantic, the standard of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary ‘flies’ for the first time in nearly 74 years.

This is the wreck of the tanker Darkdale and the standard of the Royal Navy’s vital support fleet was raised on it after experts successfully removed oil from its sunken hold – eliminating the risk of large-scale environmental damage to the idyllic island of St Helena.
We are now confident that St Helena is at no risk of environmental damage from a large spill, and that was our overriding objective.

A Royal Navy team of divers paved the way for the cutting-edge operation, safely removing shells from the tanker’s guns, before specialist frogmen working for the MOD’s Salvage and Marine Operations division moved in to extract the oil.

Over several weeks they managed to draw out some 1,944 cubic metres of fuel – enough to fill the tanks of more than 35,000 family cars – from the shattered remnants of the Darkdale, which lies just off the capital of Jamestown.

The removed fuel is now in a tanker and will be taken away for reprocessing.

There remains some oil in the wreck and as the Darkdale continues to disintegrate over time, small amounts will leak.

But Andy Liddell of MOD’s Salvage and Marine Operations division said that aside, the team had extracted “all the oil that can possibly be removed.

“We are now confident that St Helena is at no risk of environmental damage from a large spill, and that was our overriding objective.”

The last act of the operation was performed by diver Gordon Vickers, who raised the Blue Ensign on the wreck in memory of the 41 men killed in 1941.

The tanker had been stationed off St Helena, providing fuel for passing Royal Navy warships waging the Battle of the Atlantic against the German Navy.

She was torpedoed on the night of October 21-22 1941 by submarine ace Karl-Friedrich Merten in U-68.

RN divers removed 38 shells used by Darkdale’s two main guns, dumping them in water one and a half miles deep where they’ll be of no danger to anyone.

“It’s been a real cutting-edge, edge of the envelope operation, all taking place off a tiny island in the middle of the Atlantic,” said Lt Olly Shepherd, who led the 12-strong team of Royal Navy divers.

“It’s the most challenging thing any of us have ever done but also a brilliant experience, something really special to be involved in.

“St Helena is an incredible place and the wreck of the Darkdale is a big part of the history of the island.”

For photos go to - https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... nour-wreck
HMS Pelican 1938 - 1958 GGCV L86 U86 F86 What I Have I Hold ~ A wonderful bird is the Pelican its beak can hold more than its belly can.
User avatar
jbryce1437
Posts: 1879
Joined: Sun Aug 05, 2018 7:28 pm
Location: Roker, Sunderland

Re: RFA In General

Unread post by jbryce1437 »

Well done to all concerned.

Jim
HMS Raleigh 1963 , HMS Collingwood 1963 & 67 , HMS Ark Royal 1964-7, HMS Undaunted 1968-71, HMS Victory (Fleet Maintenance Group) 1971-72, HMS Exmouth 1972-74
JEM, EM, OEM, LOEM, POOEL
Then 28 years in the Fire Brigade
Retired since 2002
User avatar
Pelican
Posts: 9736
Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2018 10:10 pm

Re: RFA In General

Unread post by Pelican »

WOMEN MAKE HISTORY IN THE ROYAL FLEET AUXILIARY
24 September 2019

Two members of the RFA have become the first females to receive the RFA Long Service and Good Conduct Medal for 20 years’ service.
Chief Officer (LS) Jane Struthers and First Officer (LS) Kelly Taylor received their awards at the RFA’s annual awards ceremony at HMS Nelson.
Continues at - https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... in-the-rfa
HMS Pelican 1938 - 1958 GGCV L86 U86 F86 What I Have I Hold ~ A wonderful bird is the Pelican its beak can hold more than its belly can.
User avatar
Pelican
Posts: 9736
Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2018 10:10 pm

Re: RFA In General

Unread post by Pelican »

Since Portland harbour (formerly MoD property) is increasingly being used by cruise liners, berthing charges have become exorbitant.

RFA is considering using Devonport or Portsmouth more frequently.
HMS Pelican 1938 - 1958 GGCV L86 U86 F86 What I Have I Hold ~ A wonderful bird is the Pelican its beak can hold more than its belly can.
Post Reply Previous topicNext topic

Return to “The Royal Fleet Auxiliary”