New ballot for tug boat strikes, at Devonport navy base

PLYMOUTH’S Devonport naval base could face a wave of strikes until the summer as tugboat crews vote on whether to continue industrial action in an ongoing dispute over shift patterns, writes William Telford.

The crews are being balloted on renewing the strike mandate that could see a strikes until early July in the continuing rostering dispute, Unite the union said.

About 40 tractor tug crew members employed by Serco Marine at Devonport’s naval base will be balloted for strike action from Wednesday, May 5. The ballot closes on Wednesday, May 19.

The re-ballot will extend the mandate which will ensure that Unite members will be covered by the full 12-week period of immunity from being dismissed for taking part in lawful industrial action, which will now cover all action until early July, the union said.

Unite members have already held two 24-hour “solidly supported” strikes in the long-running dispute over the imposition of a new “three weeks on and three weeks off” roster. Unite has repeatedly said there were serious health and safety risks for its members, including excessive tiredness, with the new three–week system introduced in December 2020.

It also has adverse implications for workers’ annual leave entitlement.

The union has previously warned of a summer of disruption at the naval base if the rostering issue is not resolved, saying strikes will cause “serious disruption” to naval vessels, including submarines, which need the tugs to get into the docks and out again into open sea, the union said.

Unite national officer Bobby Morton said: “The ballot is to renew the strike mandate from our members giving them legal protection from dismissal, which could mean a wave of strikes into early July.

“We have already held two solidly supported 24 hour strikes in April which caused disruption to naval vessels coming into dock and then being guided out again to open sea.

“The new roster system of three weeks ‘on’ and then weeks ‘off’ has meant increased fatigue for our members who do a very responsible and essential job.

“The previous one week ‘on’ and one week ‘off’ pattern worked well for many years and should be reinstated.

“The best way to settle this dispute is for the Secro bosses to sit down for constructive talks, but, so far, they have adopted the ‘head in the sand’ strategy in the hope that our members will accept the new rostering system – but this is not going to happen.”

The dispute started in 2020 and talks under the auspices of the conciliation service, Acas reached an impasse.

The second strike took place on Monday, April 26, and was “solidly supported” the union said, although Serco denied it had caused any issues for the Royal Navy.

Salli Shapcott, Serco Maritime Services contract director, said: “We are disappointed that the Unite trade union decided to call the industrial action on Monday, April 26, however we did not experience any disruption to Royal Navy movements.”.