Portal partners
RFA Officers Strike: Nautilus International reacts to pay crisis
Author:Mariusz Dasiewicz
Nautilus International, a trade union representing British officers Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA), announced a strike to be held on August 15. This unprecedented event responds to a government bid which, according to the union, is drastically different from the realities of rising inflation.
The union demands a consolidated wage increase, adequate for inflation, and a clear path towards the return to pay. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary, employing civilian personnel and acting under the auspices of the British Ministry of Defence, plays a key role in providing logistical and operational support for the Royal Navy and other British armed forces.
The strike will take place at strategic locations: Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead, Whale Island in Portsmouth and Portland in Dorset, where members of Nautilus will demonstrate their discontent.
This is the first case in RFA history when officers have taken such a radical step. Previous actions, which began on 1 June, did not lead to a strike, but the frustration associated with the imposed pay offer of 4.5% for the years 2023/24 reached the climax. The union underlines that the real value of wages has fallen by more than 30% since 2010, which exacerbates the recruitment crisis and the problem of retaining workers in this key service.
"Our members have had enough," said Martyn Gray, organizational director of Nautilus International. "Too long RFA, Royal Navy and Ministry of Defence relied on the goodwill of our members. The current wage offer, combined with a real wage drop of over 30% since 2010, has made this good will run out."
Gray continued: "The message of our members is clear: they are worked, underpaid and undervalued. The only way to end this dispute is through a wage offer that takes account of high inflation and is a first step towards restoring real wages. This strike will be recorded in history, but unfortunately it will not bring glory to the already paralyzed RFA. Nautilus is determined to find a solution as soon as possible, but we will not allow our members to be treated as a certainty any longer."
This protest is not only a sign of frustration, but also a warning to decision makers that ignoring RFA's problems can have far-reaching consequences.
Source: Royal Navy/MD
