Coastguards strike again over pay

MCA staff held their first ever strike over pay in February

Coastguards in Great Yarmouth are due to go on strike in a national dispute over pay.

Staff from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) had never taken industrial action until February 2008.

Their union wants another £3,000 on top of base pay of £14,000 a year. But the MCA has said it is bound by government rules on public sector pay.

The 48-hour strike is due to finish on Sunday at 2000 BST, the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) Union said.

The union is unhappy that coastguards pay lags behind other emergency service workers. It is the fourth time coastguards have walked out over pay this year.

'Particularly vigilant'

The MCA has a contingency plan to cover the service during the strike.

But Peter Wheeler, branch secretary for the PCS union in Great Yarmouth, said: "With the best will in the world it will not be such a good service as would be provided if we were here.

"I've been getting the message out to the public that this weekend they need to be particularly careful not to get into trouble, particularly vigilant."

Winds of up to 25mph (40km) are forecast along the Norfolk coast at the weekend.