6 March, 2008

SHETLAND’S coastguard station will remain fully operational today (Thursday) despite a national 24 hour strike due to start at 7am.

The day long stoppage will involve 700 Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union members working for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

Yesterday a local coastguard spokesman said “The strike affects us because it is a national dispute, we however will be operational.”

The action will hit the UK rescue co-ordination centres that receive emergency or 999 distress calls and control search and rescue operations of lifeboats, helicopters and other rescue teams.

The MCA has put UK wide contingency plans in place to ensure that any emergencies will be responded to as normal.

Last week members of the (PCS) voted for strike action for the first time in their history after a long running dispute over pay.