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Coastguards claim public support Coastguards hold a second strike
(40 minutes later)
The union representing coastguards says the public have supported its actions in Wales as its members hold a second 24-hour strike on Friday over pay. The union representing coastguards says the public has supported its actions in Wales as its members hold a second 24-hour strike over pay.
The coastguard station in Holyhead, Anglesey, will be closed with calls being handled by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) in Liverpool.The coastguard station in Holyhead, Anglesey, will be closed with calls being handled by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) in Liverpool.
Milford Haven and Swansea coastguards will also be involved in the strike.Milford Haven and Swansea coastguards will also be involved in the strike.
The MCA said the service offered would be of a more limited nature but that rescuers would still be available.The MCA said the service offered would be of a more limited nature but that rescuers would still be available.
The UK-wide strike starting at 0700 BST will involve up to 700 members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) and will affect coastguard operations rooms. The UK-wide strike starting at 0700 BST will involve around 400 members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) and will affect coastguard operations rooms.
Around 100 staff from Wales' three coastguard stations will be taking part. Staff from Wales' three coastguard stations will be taking part.
The industrial action will be taken by those responsible for co-ordinating rescues. The rescuers themselves will continue to operate as normal although coastguards have said they will return to their duties in an emergency if someone's life was in danger.The industrial action will be taken by those responsible for co-ordinating rescues. The rescuers themselves will continue to operate as normal although coastguards have said they will return to their duties in an emergency if someone's life was in danger.
If they do get into a mess and someone in our area is going to be in severe danger we will go back in to the building and carry out the rescue Ray Carson, PCS branch secretary at Holyhead coastguardIf they do get into a mess and someone in our area is going to be in severe danger we will go back in to the building and carry out the rescue Ray Carson, PCS branch secretary at Holyhead coastguard
The action follows the first ever strike by coastguards on 6 March. A third 24-hour strike is planned to take place from 1900 BST on 23 April until 1900 BST on 24 April.The action follows the first ever strike by coastguards on 6 March. A third 24-hour strike is planned to take place from 1900 BST on 23 April until 1900 BST on 24 April.
Since Tuesday, coastguard staff have also been working to rule meaning they have dealt with emergency calls only and have not carried out administrative work like writing reports and dealing with e-mails.Since Tuesday, coastguard staff have also been working to rule meaning they have dealt with emergency calls only and have not carried out administrative work like writing reports and dealing with e-mails.
The PCS Union says its members want a pay deal which brings them more in line with other emergency services.The PCS Union says its members want a pay deal which brings them more in line with other emergency services.
They said coastguard watch assistants, who actively participate in search planning and other duties in response to 999 calls, only earn the national minimum wage.They said coastguard watch assistants, who actively participate in search planning and other duties in response to 999 calls, only earn the national minimum wage.
The union wants coastguard staff to have another £3,000 on top of their current base pay of £14,000 a year. It also wants the starting salary of £12,097 to increase.The union wants coastguard staff to have another £3,000 on top of their current base pay of £14,000 a year. It also wants the starting salary of £12,097 to increase.
Ray Carson, PCS branch secretary at Holyhead coastguard said MCA staff who did not have a lot of experience with some of their equipment would be manning the lines at the Liverpool coastguard station on Friday and would be handling calls for north Wales.Ray Carson, PCS branch secretary at Holyhead coastguard said MCA staff who did not have a lot of experience with some of their equipment would be manning the lines at the Liverpool coastguard station on Friday and would be handling calls for north Wales.
"Some of them do have a coastguard background but do not necessarily have knowledge of the equipment," he said."Some of them do have a coastguard background but do not necessarily have knowledge of the equipment," he said.
"But PCS members are not being unreasonable about this. There is not a coastguard in Wales or the UK who wants to take this action. We do not want to see anyone getting into trouble."But PCS members are not being unreasonable about this. There is not a coastguard in Wales or the UK who wants to take this action. We do not want to see anyone getting into trouble.
'Chocolate bars''Chocolate bars'
"If they do get into a mess and someone in our area is going to be in severe danger we will go back in to the building and carry out the rescue.""If they do get into a mess and someone in our area is going to be in severe danger we will go back in to the building and carry out the rescue."
Mr Carson added that during their first strike in March, public support for the picket line in Holyhead was "overwhelming".Mr Carson added that during their first strike in March, public support for the picket line in Holyhead was "overwhelming".
"We had people appearing with carrier bags full of chocolate bars for people on the picket line. People even gave us heat pads to help keep us warm," he said."We had people appearing with carrier bags full of chocolate bars for people on the picket line. People even gave us heat pads to help keep us warm," he said.
"I think the action really brought it home to people what the coastguards did.""I think the action really brought it home to people what the coastguards did."
The MCA said people taking to the seas on Friday should carry out routine safety checks and look at weather forecasts before going out to sea.The MCA said people taking to the seas on Friday should carry out routine safety checks and look at weather forecasts before going out to sea.
"Contingency planning is in place to ensure public safety is protected," it said."Contingency planning is in place to ensure public safety is protected," it said.