29 February, 2008

NORTHERN isles MP Alistair Carmichael last night (Thursday) called on the secretary of state for transport Ruth Kelly MP to make an urgent statement on the planned coastguard strike to enable parliament to debate the deteriorating industrial relations at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

On Wednesday, the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) announced that an overwhelming majority had voted in favour of a 24 hour strike on 6 March.

The union said that that pay levels at the MCA had fallen way behind those of other emergency services with many staff earning little more than the national minimum wage.

Yesterday, Mr Carmichael said the government had avoided addressing the issue for long enough.

"They now have to explain to the public how they can protect the seagoing community if the coastguard is allowed to strike," he said.

Speaking in parliament, he added: "Would the Leader of the House make time available for an urgent statement by the secretary of state for transport on the Maritime and Coastguard Agency's rapidly deteriorating industrial relations?

"The right honourable and learned lady will doubtless be aware that its workers are anticipating strike action for the first time.

"The management claim to have contingency measures in place should that happen. Many of us in coastal and island communities do not have a great deal of confidence in those measures, and this matter needs to be discussed in this House before it becomes time critical."

Leader of the House Harriet Harman MP replied by saying that it was her hope that contingency arrangements would not have to be put into effect and the dispute was settled before it reaches a critical point.