PAY MUTINY
Royal Navy staff vote for unprecedented strike — threatening to leave sailors stranded
The Nautilus union rejected an 4.5 per cent pay rise and cited a 'real terms pay cut' for Royal Fleet Auxiliary sailors since 2010
COMMANDERS of the Royal Navy’s supply ships have voted to strike for the first time — threatening to leave thousands of sailors and Marines stranded.
The walkout by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary officers would have a “severe impact on operations”, former Navy chief Admiral Lord West warned.
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It comes as an RFA amphibious assault ship is steaming towards the eastern Mediterranean to get life-saving aid into Gaza.
Another two vessels, RFA Lyme Bay and Argus, are currently docked in Chennai, India, with an elite group of Royal Marines.
In total, the Merchant Navy organisation boasts a dozen ships including the undersea spy ship Proteus, bought to safeguard internet cables from Russian threats last year.
Lord West told The Sun: “We have used the RFA more and more as the Navy has been squeezed.
“They are our amphibious strike capability, our refuelling and replenishing capability.
“If they go on strike completely, then it will have a severe impact on our ability to conduct operations.”
Royal Navy sailors are banned from striking, but RFA staff are civilians.
They can strike if their ship is in port, not on operations and if they are not in a safety critical role, such as an on-duty fire crew.
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Their officers voted four to one in favour of strike action after rejecting an 4.5 per cent pay rise.
Their Nautilus union said RFA sailors had suffered a “real terms pay cut of over 30 per cent” since 2010.
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It is the first time officers have voted to strike. Ratings walked out 12 years ago.
Martyn Gray, from the Nautilus union, said: “The result of this ballot is a clear indication of the strength of frustration amongst our members at the RFA, who feel overworked, underpaid, and undervalued.
“The RFA is vital to the UK’s naval capabilities.
“In a time of significant geo-political instability, we do not wish to see disruption to the RFA’s operations.”
The Royal Navy said it “remained engaged” with trade unions representing Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel over the proposed pay offer.
A spokesperson added: “It would be inappropriate for the Royal Navy to speculate on any possible outcome of those discussions or strike action at this point.
“However, during any negotiations RFA operations remain unaffected and they continue to support the Royal Navy and our allies around the world.”
BOUNTY BARRED
By Emily-Jane Heap
THE most famous Navy mutiny was the 1789 hijack of HMS Bounty.
Fletcher Christian led crew in seizing the ship in the South Pacific and forcing captain Lt William Bligh and 18 loyalists into a small launch.
Bligh survived a 3,600-mile voyage while Christian and his group were killed by each other or Polynesians.
The revolt inspired a 1962 film with Marlon Brando as Christian and Trevor Howard as Bligh.
The bloodiest rebellion came in 1797 when the poorly treated crew of HMS Hermione attacked superiors.
Drunk rebels stabbed captain Hugh Pigot to death before killing at least ten other officers off Puerto Rico.
In the same year sailors on 16 ships mutinied over living standards at Spithead near Portsmouth.
In 1919, thousands of troops took over Southampton docks after being told to return to France.
The mutiny ended when chief Sir Hugh Trenchard threatened lethal force.
Also in 1919, 150 men of the 1st Destroyer Flotilla left their posts in protest at a possible deployment to the Baltic against Russia.
A total of 96 sailors were arrested and punished for the uprising with ten jailed.
News of Navy pay cuts led 1,000 sailors in Invergordon, Scotland, to take industrial action in 1931.