Royal Fleet Auxiliary set to strike

RFA staff to strike over pay from March 5–6 after union ballot.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) working for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary are set to stage a 48-hour strike over pay.

The walkout will begin at 12.01 am on March 5 and end at 11.59 pm on March 6, with union members stating that essential safety functions, such as vessel navigation and emergency response, will be maintained to ensure safety during the strike.

The RMT said workers will continue to carry out duties necessary to ensure vessel safety, including maintaining moorings and gangways.

The industrial action follows a ballot in which members voted by a margin of roughly nine to one to reject the employer’s latest pay proposal and support strike action.

RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said Royal Fleet Auxiliary staff are seeking a “decent” pay settlement, reflecting their hope for a fair resolution and understanding from the public and industry stakeholders.

He also urged their employer to ensure compliance with minimum wage legislation.

The union has argued that current pay levels do not adequately reflect the responsibilities its members carry out.

The strike is expected to affect operations linked to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, which provides logistical and operational support to the UK’s naval fleet, potentially impacting maritime logistics and supply chains.

The union emphasised that safety-critical maritime functions will be preserved during the action, aiming to reassure the public and stakeholders that safety remains a priority despite the strike.

Industrial relations in the maritime sector have come under pressure amid wider cost-of-living concerns and disputes over public-sector pay.

The union has continued to press for improved remuneration and assurances that employment practices fully comply with national wage regulations.

RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said: “Our members, who are the most highly trained seafarers, perform incredibly difficult tasks in often dangerous circumstances, supporting their colleagues in the Royal Navy, whilst spending months at a time away from their families.

“Years of real terms pay cuts have left dedicated RFA seafarers worse off, demoralised, and this latest offer falls well short of expectations and significantly below comparable employers within the sector.

“The Royal Fleet Auxiliary and the Ministry of Defence must now get around the table with us to address our members’ immediate concerns and tackle the crewing crisis.”