This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/south_west/6569075.stm
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Meeting over coastguards' action | Meeting over coastguards' action |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Fourteeen coastguard crews in Wales did not respond to calls overnight in a dispute over insurance. | Fourteeen coastguard crews in Wales did not respond to calls overnight in a dispute over insurance. |
| The team at the centre of the dispute in Fishguard withdrew its services overnight, following action taken by Broadhaven and Penrhyn coastguards. | The team at the centre of the dispute in Fishguard withdrew its services overnight, following action taken by Broadhaven and Penrhyn coastguards. |
| Five teams covering the Gower peninsula also joined the action at midnight. | |
| The Fishguard crew will meet the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) on Thursday. The MCA said contingencies were in place providing cover. | The Fishguard crew will meet the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) on Thursday. The MCA said contingencies were in place providing cover. |
| Milford Haven and Swansea coastguards reported no incidents overnight. | |
| The MCA stressed that other emergency services, including the RNLI, were still operating and said lives would not be put at risk. | |
| More than 100 miles of coastline has been affected by the action. | |
| 'Mixed feelings' | 'Mixed feelings' |
| Originally, a total of 12 teams in west Wales, western England and west Scotland were withdrwing cover from midnight, but crews from the Gower also joined the action. | Originally, a total of 12 teams in west Wales, western England and west Scotland were withdrwing cover from midnight, but crews from the Gower also joined the action. |
| The coastguards' dispute centres on volunteer Brian MacFarlane, who damaged his knee while rescuing an animal from a cliff face four years ago. | The coastguards' dispute centres on volunteer Brian MacFarlane, who damaged his knee while rescuing an animal from a cliff face four years ago. |
| The 38-year-old father subsequently lost his main job as a residential social worker, and claims he has not been given fair compensation. | The 38-year-old father subsequently lost his main job as a residential social worker, and claims he has not been given fair compensation. |
| Fishguard coastguards said they had "mixed feelings" about withdrawing search and rescue cover, but said they had written to the MCA on 9 April asking for their concerns to be addressed within 10 days. | Fishguard coastguards said they had "mixed feelings" about withdrawing search and rescue cover, but said they had written to the MCA on 9 April asking for their concerns to be addressed within 10 days. |
| Station Officer John Davies said the chief coastguard had initially asked for a meeting after the deadline. | Station Officer John Davies said the chief coastguard had initially asked for a meeting after the deadline. |
| He said: "We said we would make ourselves available at any time within the 10 days but they did not seem able to do that. Fishguard coastguards are disappointed about this. | He said: "We said we would make ourselves available at any time within the 10 days but they did not seem able to do that. Fishguard coastguards are disappointed about this. |
| Brian MacFarlane was injured rescuing an animal four years ago | Brian MacFarlane was injured rescuing an animal four years ago |
| "We are on 24 hours a day, 365 days a year on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, yet coastguard managers can not make a meeting to talk about such an important matter, within 10 days." | "We are on 24 hours a day, 365 days a year on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, yet coastguard managers can not make a meeting to talk about such an important matter, within 10 days." |
| Mr Davies added that coastguard rescue officers were willing to risk themselves to save others, but not to put their families' welfare and financial wellbeing at risk. | Mr Davies added that coastguard rescue officers were willing to risk themselves to save others, but not to put their families' welfare and financial wellbeing at risk. |
| The officers are technically part-time employees of the MCA for the period they are called out, but all hold regular employment and see themselves as volunteers. | The officers are technically part-time employees of the MCA for the period they are called out, but all hold regular employment and see themselves as volunteers. |
| The MCA said it felt the action was premature as planned discussions had not yet taken place. | The MCA said it felt the action was premature as planned discussions had not yet taken place. |
| Fred Caygill said: "Should services be withdrawn, contingencies are in place to ensure that the preservation and saving of life is not compromised." | Fred Caygill said: "Should services be withdrawn, contingencies are in place to ensure that the preservation and saving of life is not compromised." |
| Mr Caygill said the civil service injuries benefits scheme, which covers the coastguards, was a national scheme which covered all civil servants. | Mr Caygill said the civil service injuries benefits scheme, which covers the coastguards, was a national scheme which covered all civil servants. |
| "It is therefore not within the MCA's gift to make its own changes to the scheme, although the MCA will be able to represent the view of volunteer coastguards to central government," he added. | "It is therefore not within the MCA's gift to make its own changes to the scheme, although the MCA will be able to represent the view of volunteer coastguards to central government," he added. |