By Isle of Wight Observer
In a victory for coastguard rescue officers across the country, plans by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) to remove their remuneration payments have been formally blocked by the Government. The decision follows months of pressure from Isle of Wight East MP, Joe Robertson, who worked cross-party to challenge what was described as a mass “fire and re hire”, of frontline coastal responders.
The MCA had intended to move CROs to an expenses-only volunteer model, from September, after they lost an employment tribunal case brought by Bembridge resident and former CRO, Martin Groom. Mr Groom, with the support of the GMB union, argued that CROs were entitled to the benefits of workers – while the MCA insisted they were just volunteers. Fellow Bembridge resident, Sir Paul Kenny, the former General Secretary of the GMB, encouraged him to bring the case. The IW Observer reported on the full story last month, predicting that “Goliath may have picked the wrong David.”
Mr Robertson argued the proposal would strip away a modest but long-standing payment system that has existed for more than a century. Yesterday, Maritime Minister, Keir Mather, confirmed in the House of Commons that the plan will not proceed.
The MP has led a national campaign on behalf of CROs, securing cross-party backing, including from IW West MP, Richard Quigley, hosting a Parliamentary event, meeting Government ministers, and holding discussions with MCA Chief Executive, Virginia McVea. He also arranged a face to face meeting between Mr Groom and the Minister.
Mr Robertson said the decision marked “a great day for the brave men and women who keep our coastal communities safe, including here on the Island”. He added that the MCA “should never have been allowed to develop a brutal plan to scrap modest remuneration for our frontline heroes”.
Paying tribute to Martin Groom’s 35 years of service, he said the Bembridge resident had “stood up to arrogant MCA management”, adding that “big questions remain about the future of an agency that continues to show itself to be an out-of-touch Government quango”.
