Almost 600 Coastguards have called for a vote of no confidence in the chief executive of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).
GMB Union wrote to the MCA chair Lord Stevens in July to “formally express our lack of confidence in the leadership of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency under chief executive Virginia McVea”. Since then, 580 Coastguards across the UK have signed up to the no confidence vote.
The call comes despite a u-turn on a plan, revealed earlier this year, to strip volunteer coastguard of an hourly rate of £11 for callouts and training.
Lord Stevens has thus far not responded to GMB, and the union has now written a further letter to “formally escalate the concerns previously raised”.
Coastguards are calling for an expression of no confidence, and independent review into leadership culture, the chance to submit evidence to the review, and a clear timetable for responding to concerns raised.
“These life-saving workers have already told Lord Stevens in no uncertain terms they are unhappy with the chief exec,” said Nicola Savage, national officer at GMB. “It’s pretty disrespectful they haven’t yet had a response, but hopefully the hundreds of signatures on the vote of no confidence might give him a bit of a nudge.
“Coastguards give their time, skills, and even risk their lives to keep people safe. They need to know their boss is right behind them — and after the shambles of the renumeration payments, that’s just not how they feel about Ms McVea.”
