Bosses at outsourcing giant Serco say they are willing to continue talks with union reps in a bid to prevent a strike by tug boat crews causing “Christmas chaos” for the Royal Navy in Plymouth.
About 40 tractor tug crew members employed by Serco Marine at Devonport are after voting for industrial action in a ballot.
They are unhappy about proposed changes to their working pattern which means they would move from working one-week-on and one-week-off to three-weeks-on and three-weeks-off.
The tug boats are vital for assisting Royal Navy vessels, including surface ships and submarines, to leave and return to harbour safely.
If the strike goes ahead from Christmas Day it could seriously hamper Royal Navy movements in and out of Devonport Dockyard and naval base.
But Serco said it has offered a compromise and said it is still hopeful a solution can be found and a walk-out averted.
Salli Shapcott, Serco contract director of Maritime Services, said: ”Serco is frustrated and disappointed that the Unite Union is taking industrial action, and that the small number of employees who have voted for this action could impact the service we provide for the Royal Navy.
“The changes that we are introducing are aligned to industry practice and meet maritime regulatory compliance, and all employees will be off for 26 weeks of the year with 30 days annual leave.
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“We have offered a compromise solution and stand ready to continue the discussions, either through ACAS or directly with Unite, and still hope that a constructive solution can be found.”
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Sercvo said the rostering pattern has changed to adapt to changes in “customer demand” moving from one-week-on and one-week-off to three-weeks-on and three-weeks-off system for 26 weeks of the year, with workers off the other 26 weeks of the year.
Under the previous arrangements, staff were afforded the 26 weeks off and an additional 16 days, and Serco said the disagreement relates to the removal of the 16 additional days.
The firm insisted that all changes are aligned to industry practice and meet maritime regulatory compliance under the Merchant Shipping Working Time Regulations and all employees will continue to receive 30 days annual leave plus eight days bank holiday, pro-rated for part-time staff, within the 26 weeks off.
Consultation began in August 2020 and Serco said 91 people have been affected by the change, with all groups with the exception of about 40 people accepting the new rosters, with some adjustments agreed to the original proposals based on feedback during the consultation process.
Serco said it has offered a compromise position on the 16 days leave and stands ready to continue negotiations to avoid an “all or nothing” scenario.
But Unite said the duty rota changes also mean the workers will lose annual leave allocations and said the first strike will begin at 7am on Christmas Day, and continue until 6.59am on Wednesday, December 30.
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A second strike is scheduled to begin on Thursday, January 11, 2021, at 7am, continuing every day up to January 16 when the action will conclude at 6.59am.
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In a ballot with a 92.3% turnout, 97.2% voted in favour of strike action, Unite said. It said its members “have taken the difficult decision to strike” because the changes will “dangerously increase fatigue” amongst tug crews, who deal with a whole host of military vessels, including nuclear submarines.
Moving from a one-week to a three-week rota will also adversely affect the crew members’ home and family lives, the union claimed.
Unite called on the Ministry of Defence to intervene to prevent Serco Marine from introducing the rota changes, which it said are an attempt to “eke every last penny out of the contract”.
Unite regional coordinating officer Terry Keefe said: “Unite’s Serco Marine members have taken the difficult decision to strike because the company’s bosses, many of whom have never worked at sea, are refusing to listen to reason.
“The workers are reluctantly taking strike action but feel as though they have no option. Changing from a one-week to a three-week rota will dangerously increase fatigue in a demanding job where there is absolutely no room for mistakes. It will also play havoc with people’s family lives. "