Supplementary memorandum by PCS (SAR 08A)
SEARCH AND RESCUE
Further to the Transport Select Committee held
on 2 March 2005 where the PCS gave oral evidence, we are pleased
to provide further supplementary evidence to corroborate the claims
we made during the session.
UNDERSTAFFING
This relates to the claim that no Coastguard
Rescue Centres and sub centres were fully staffed with qualified
substantive grades during the past year on one or more occasion.
We enclose proof of this in Appendix 1 showing at least one occasion
when rescue centres were inadequately staffed with qualified Watch
Managers (WM), Watch Officers (WO) and Coastguard Watch Assistants
(CWA). We do have many more examples that we can provide if necessary.
During the evidence gathering we found there
was in some locations great reluctance from members of staff to
provide the information requested. The fear expressed by these
persons was that they would suffer repercussions.
AUXILIARY COASTGUARD
AVAILABILITY
Again during our evidence session we commented
upon the difficulties being experienced by operations room staff
in obtaining sufficient numbers of Auxiliary Coastguard (ACG)
staff to carry out search and rescue functions. Attached in Appendix
2 is a transcript of a paper supplied for the ACG review team
meeting on 10 March 2005 with minutes of recent communications
from all the Area Operations Managers from around the coast of
the UK expressing the same concerns we raised at the committee.
PAGER ISSUES
During our evidence we stated that there were
some concerns about the pager coverage in some areas, particularly
in North Scotland. We enclose in Appendix 3 further evidence to
show that the problem of coverage is not solely confined to Scotland.
CONSULTATION WITH
PCS OVER STAFFING
At a meeting held on 8 March 2005 with a Regional
Director and Regional Operations Manager, the Regional Director
agreed that no consultation with PCS over the issue had taken
place and no report by any managers in his region has been submitted.
CONCERNS
Prior to and subsequent to our session before
the Transport Select Committee we have serious concerns about
the managerial style now current in some parts of the MCA. The
Chief Executive expressed that his wish to "get rid of deadwood"
seem to have encouraged certain managers to use management styles
that are at best questionable. Around the coast there is, I am
afraid to say, a climate of fear and low morale. This is also
evident in MCA headquarters where PCS activists are coming under
pressure to resign as union representatives. It is our view that
an independent enquiry into both the management style and the
reluctance to staff the MCA's rescue centres with qualified and
competent staff, should be undertaken as a matter of urgency.
March 2005
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