2 May, 2007

SHETLAND'S coastguard officers yesterday (Tuesday) joined a national one day work to rule as part of a national campaign of industrial action.

The Public and Commercial Services Union, which represents staff working for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, organised the day of action after government employers imposed a pay settlement without negotiation.

Safety and emergency services, including weather reporting, were still being carried out but all routine administrative tasks were dropped for the day.

The union's general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "PCS members can be proud of the turnout for the national strike today. All the indications are that it had been as well supported as on 31 January.

All those who have supported the strike have sent a clear message to the government that they need to sit down with us and negotiate a reasonable outcome to our demands on jobs, pay and conditions."