The following has been supplied by the TUC:
Government ministers plan to press ahead with station closures, despite overwhelming opposition from coastguards and the public, the union PCS has said. The union believes proposals to close eight coastguard stations around the UK and cut more than 140 jobs will result in the loss of life-saving local knowledge around our coastline. Following initial opposition and severe criticism from a committee of MPs earlier this year, the original proposals were watered down. PCS says revised plans were tabled in July without any formal discussion with the union. There was no commitment to prevent compulsory redundancies and nothing about improving pay for coastguards who are the worst paid in the emergency services, it adds. PCS remains opposed to the planned closure of the stations - Clyde, Forth, Portland, Liverpool, Yarmouth, Brixham, Thames and Swansea - but has said that any new national network must be fully tested. PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: 'Coastguards, the communities they serve and the wider public spoke with one voice in opposing these dangerous plans, but they have been shamefully ignored. We are seriously concerned that ministers want to press ahead with proposals that will mean the loss of vital local knowledge of our coastlines, and we are committed to keeping up the fight to defend our communities from these cuts.'
