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| Scots coastguard staff on strike | Scots coastguard staff on strike |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Staff at Scotland's coastguard centres have joined their colleagues in the rest of the UK in a walk-out over pay. | Staff at Scotland's coastguard centres have joined their colleagues in the rest of the UK in a walk-out over pay. |
| The Public and Commercial Services Union said 700 staff, including those in Stornoway, Aberdeen and Clyde, were part of the 24-hour action. | The Public and Commercial Services Union said 700 staff, including those in Stornoway, Aberdeen and Clyde, were part of the 24-hour action. |
| Union officials said their members were furious pay levels were behind those in other emergency services. | Union officials said their members were furious pay levels were behind those in other emergency services. |
| Bosses at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said the strike action would not involve staff sent to emergencies. | Bosses at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said the strike action would not involve staff sent to emergencies. |
| Peter Cardy, chief executive at the agency, said: "Lives will not be put at risk, we have been working on contingency plans and communications have been re-routed. | Peter Cardy, chief executive at the agency, said: "Lives will not be put at risk, we have been working on contingency plans and communications have been re-routed. |
| "Mayday calls, automatic distress calls and 999 calls will still get through. | "Mayday calls, automatic distress calls and 999 calls will still get through. |
| STRIKES AT MCA CENTRES PortlandSolentDoverLondonThamesYarmouthHumberLiverpoolHolyheadMilford HavenSwanseaFalmouthBrixhamBelfastForthClydeAberdeenStornoway | |
| "The tugs will still be operating so they will be patrolling the shores of the UK, the helicopters will still be flying exactly as normal, our counter-pollution teams will be ready as always." | "The tugs will still be operating so they will be patrolling the shores of the UK, the helicopters will still be flying exactly as normal, our counter-pollution teams will be ready as always." |
| The union wants coastguards to get another £3,000 on top of their current base pay of £14,000 a year. | The union wants coastguards to get another £3,000 on top of their current base pay of £14,000 a year. |
| Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland, the PCS union's representative for Scotland, Steve Quinn, said members had been left with no options other than to strike. | Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland, the PCS union's representative for Scotland, Steve Quinn, said members had been left with no options other than to strike. |
| He said pay rates for watch assistance were "a disgrace". | He said pay rates for watch assistance were "a disgrace". |
| The PCS' pay co-ordinator Geoff Lewtas said the union had a copy of a letter from one of its members in Scotland saying that management would be increasing his salary to the minimum wage rate. | The PCS' pay co-ordinator Geoff Lewtas said the union had a copy of a letter from one of its members in Scotland saying that management would be increasing his salary to the minimum wage rate. |
| "They had to do this in October last year because his salary was below the national minimum rate," said Mr Lewtas. | "They had to do this in October last year because his salary was below the national minimum rate," said Mr Lewtas. |