PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
Royal Fleet Auxiliary pay settlement (19 May 2024)

Motion Details

That this House notes the imposition of a below inflation pay settlement for merchant seafarers in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) in 2023-24; expresses concern that RFA seafarers’ pay has fallen thirty-six per cent behind inflation, alongside cuts to pensions, wider employment conditions and crewing levels since 2009-10; highlights the findings of the RFA’s own private consultants that the RFA pays lower than the market average in the ferries, deep sea, cruise and workboat sectors; notes that RFA seafarers work four-month tours at sea but are not entitled to leave parity like the majority of the shipping sector, and is concerned by RFA seafarers’ work-life balance; further notes that RFA crew carry out 67% of Royal Navy (RN) tasking on top of their own work; understands that RFA seafarers are certified to Maritime and Coastguard Agency standards, which provides the RN with greater operational flexibility; believes the RFA does not have enough civilian seafarers should the RN’s operational needs require full deployment of the RFA fleet; supports the trade union rights of civilian merchant seafarers in the RFA organised by the RMT and Nautilus who have voted overwhelmingly to take industrial action in a pay dispute with the RFA; and calls on the Government to intervene to assist in settling the RFA pay dispute and to tackle seafarer recruitment and retention problems in the RFA and in the RN.

Sponsored by:
Grahame Morris (Labour)

EDMS Sponsor By Party

Party
Votes
%
 
Labour
9
64%
 
 
Independent
4
29%
 
 
Democratic Unionist Party
1
7%
 
Sponsor List (14 sponsors)
Party
Member
Constituency
Ind
Jeremy Corbyn
Islington North
Ind
Jonathan Edwards
Lab
Mary Kelly Foy
City of Durham
Lab
Kim Johnson
Liverpool Riverside
Lab
Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck
South Shields
Lab
Rachael Maskell
York Central
Ind
John McDonnell
Hayes and Harlington
Lab
Ian Mearns
Lab
Grahame Morris (Sponsor)
Easington
Lab
Charlotte Nichols
Warrington North
DUP
Jim Shannon
Strangford
Lab
Cat Smith
Lancaster and Wyre
Ind
Claudia Webbe
Lab
Mick Whitley

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