Plea as coastguard staff strike

Coastguards staged the first strike in their history in March

Holidaymakers and boat users on the south coast are being warned strike action by coastguard staff at the weekend could affect safety.

Some workers at the rescue control centres at Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire, and Portland, Dorset, will stop work on at 2000 BST on Friday for 48 hours.

The strike, by the Public and Commercial Services Union, is over pay.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said control centre staff would still answer emergency calls.

However the MCA urged holidaymakers and boat users to "look very carefully at their plans and precautions".

MCA chief executive, Peter Cardy, said: "Plans are in place to provide cover, but I'm encouraging everybody working or playing on the sea or on the beach this weekend to take that bit of extra care, and to follow our safety advice.

"To aid seafarers we have introduced electronic versions of the marine safety information broadcasts and NAVTEX on the front page of our web site at www.mcga.gov.uk."

Rescuers operating

The safety advice includes making sure boat users have an up-to-date marine weather forecast before going to sea.

Skippers should also ensure everyone onboard a vessel is wearing a lifejacket. Warm clothing should be available and torches, spare batteries, flares and a fixed or handheld radio should be taken.

Plans should be worked out in advance to ensure no one is left worrying about potential late arrivals, the MCA said.

Coastguard helicopters and RNLI lifeboats will be operating as normal.

Public and Commercial Services Union members working for the MCA staged their first strike in their history in March.

Coastguard staff want a rise of £3,000 on their current base of about £14,000 because they say their salaries are lower than administrative staff in comparable emergency services.

The MCA has said it is bound by the government's public service pay constraints.