GMB Scotland is pressing for proper employment status for more than 2,800 HM Coastguard rescue workers based at 310 rescue stations around the UK. About 900 of these workers are based in 116 rescue stations around the coast of mainland Scotland and the Islands.
The duties of HM Coastguard rescue workers include help rescue people trapped on the coast, for example on cliffs, stuck in mud or in the water, search for missing people, report and deal with pollution and other hazards and help emergency services and local authorities during emergencies, for example flooding.
These HM Coastguard rescue workers can be called out at any time of the day or night so they work irregular hours. They may have to work in hazardous situations for long hours and may have to carry out physically demanding tasks.
HM Coastguard rescue worker can have other employment. Required skills include: first aid, water rescue, map work, search techniques, communications and skills needed in for local area, for example rope rescue, mud rescue etc.
GMB Scotland is demanding that their status as workers is properly recognised and the work they do is properly valued and recognised.
Like for other recent high profile workers in irregular employment across the UK the union is prepared to litigate to obtain justice for these brave men and women.
Numbers of HM Coastguard rescue workers on irregular hours by Areas across the UK
| Area 1 Scotland & Orkney Islands | 137 |
| Area 2 North Scotland | 126 |
| Area 3 East Scotland | 97 |
| Area 4 Inner Clyde to River Tay and East Scottish Border | 134 |
| Area 5 North East England | 122 |
| Area 6 East of England (Yorkshire, Humberside & Lincolnshire) | 134 |
| Area 7 East Anglia | 155 |
| Area 8 South East England | 152 |
| Area 9 : Southern England including Isle of Wight | 202 |
| Area 10 : South West England | 175 |
| Area 11 : Cornwall including Isles of Scilly | 162 |
| Area 12 : North Devon including Severn Estuary | 176 |
| Area 13 : South East Wales to Mid-Wales | 203 |
| Area 14 : North West Wales | 162 |
| Area 15 : Great Orme to West Scottish Border including the Lakes | 152 |
| Area 16 : Solway to Firth of Clyde including Northern Ireland | 190 |
| Area 17 : Kintyre to Mull, Isle of Arran and Inner Hebrides | 159 |
| Area 18 : Loch Linnhe to Outer Hebrides including Skye & the Small Isles | 160 |
Gary Smith, GMB Scotland Secretary, said: “These 2,800 brave men and women who work in all weathers to rescue people and save lives are denied even the most basic rights of respect and recognition by their employer HM Coastguard.
“Staff with over 30 years experience are being axed without the basic right of being represented by their Union. The HM Coastguard rescue workers risk their lives to help and save others but are treated worse than any other Government worker. Urgent action needs to be taken to show respect for these unsung heroes.
“The union is prepared to litigate for these workers, so they can be properly recognised as part of the HM Coastguard rescue workforce and to ensure their basic employment rights are respected.”
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