GMB Union tells Blackpool conference it will fight for volunteer coastguards not being paid for 999 callouts
GMB’s annual conference in Blackpool vowed to campaign against the move.
A union is campaigning against moves which it says have led to thousands of volunteer coastguards no longer being paid for emergency callouts.
The GMB said the move affects Coastguard Rescue Officers (CROs) who carry out rescues and search for missing people including around the Fylde coast.
The promise from GMB comes after concers were raised across the Fylde coast just days after a woman died after entering the sea at Rossall Beach in search of her dog.
In May 2024, the Employment Appeal Tribunal issued a judgment in the case of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency v Groomwhich determined that a former Coastguard Rescue Officer - Martin Groom from the Isle of Wight - was a 'worker' in circumstances when he was carrying out an activity for which he was paid.
That overturned a previous decision by an Employment Tribunal in 2022 and in January this year, the Court of Appeal upheld the judgment that Coastguard Rescue Officers are 'workers' in circumstances where they are carrying out a remunerated activity.
Following the judgment, the decision has now been taken to move the Coastguard Rescue Service to a revised volunteer model.
That means volunteers are entitled to some compensation, but maintaining the choice and flexibility inherently important to the people who choose to volunteer alongside their primary employment.
They have always been given hourly remuneration for attending incidents and training exercises but they have been removed, said the union.
A Fylde coast Coastguard Rescue Officer who wishes to remain anonymous said: “This issue is particularly relevant locally.
“Only last weekend, emergency services responded to a tragic incident at Rossall Beach, where a woman died and a man was left critically ill after entering the sea while trying to rescue their dog.
“This is exactly the type of incident where local emergency response capability, availability and experience matter.
“My concern is if Coastguard Rescue Officers are moved to a purely unpaid model, who will be available when incidents like this happen?
“Fleetwood Coastguard Rescue Team is one of the busiest teams in the country and regularly supports incidents across the Fylde coast, including Blackpool. #
“Coastguard Rescue Officers are often required to leave work and family commitments at short notice and can be committed to incidents for many hours.
“This is not about volunteers demanding payment. It is about whether removing remuneration entirely will affect recruitment, retention, availability and the loss of experienced personnel.
“These skills take years to build and cannot be replaced overnight.
“The Coastguard Rescue Service is part of the UK’s emergency response system. Local people expect that when they dial 999, trained and available responders will be there.
“I am concerned this decision risks weakening that resilience.”
The union’s annual conference in Blackpool vowed to campaign against the move.
A Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokesperson said: “After careful consideration, we are moving the Coastguard Rescue Service to a revised volunteer model to best protect the future of the service.
“This decision follows a legal judgment, which means we need to change how the service operates. This new model protects choice, flexibility and the ability for people to volunteer alongside their primary employment.
“We deeply value and recognise the significant service Coastguard Rescue Officers provide along our coastline, and we will be supporting them during this transition. The Coastguard Rescue Service will continue to maintain a robust, effective search and rescue response, ensuring the highest quality of service and levels of safety.”