Devonport Dockyard tug crews are balloted for strike action

SORROYAL Naval shipping movements around Plymouth could face severe disruption if specialist tug operators at Devonport naval base go on strike, a union has warned.

Around 40 tractor tug crew members, employed by Serco Marine, are being balloted for strike action after their employer announced their working pattern would change from one-week-on and one-week-off to three-weeks-on and three-weeks-off.

The duty rota changes also mean the workers will lose annual leave allocations, the Unite union claims.

Unite said its members are “extremely angry and ready to fight” against the proposed changes, which it claims will increase fatigue amongst tug crews, who deal with military vessels, including nuclear submarines.

Moving from a one-week to a three-week rota will also adversely affect the crew members’ home and family lives, the union says.

A ballot opened yesterday and will close on Wednesday, December 2, with possible strike action beginning as early as December, the union said.

Unite regional officer Terry Keefe said: “Devonport tug crews have delivered a 100% success rate right through the coronavirus crisis, even though much of Serco’s dockside management was absent. While our members were out on the water keeping operations going, their bosses were at home planning changes that will dangerously increase fatigue amongst crews, deprive them of annual leave and play havoc with personal lives.”

Salli Shapcott, Serco contract director of Maritime Services, said the company was disappointed at the ballot for industrial action and was ready to continue discussions.