A major strike by marine workers at key Royal Navy bases has been put on hold, but tensions remain high. After last-minute talks with the Ministry of Defence (MoD), Unite the Union has confirmed that planned walkouts at bases in Faslane, Greenock, Kyle of Lochalsh, Devonport, and Portsmouth have been suspended, giving negotiations a chance to move forward.
At the heart of the dispute is a claim that 300 highly experienced marine workers, many of whom have spent decades piloting tugboats, assisting naval vessels, and even moving nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers, were locked out of critical discussions between their employer, Serco Marine, and the Royal Navy. According to the union, this lack of consultation posed a risk to fleet safety.
A Deal to Delay, But Not Resolve
While the strikes set for Thursday, Friday, and Monday have been called off, this isn’t a full resolution. Instead, Serco Marine has agreed to delay signing its new 10-year, £1.2 billion contract with the MoD, allowing for 30 days of union consultations.
But there’s a bigger issue at play, cost-cutting. Unite claims the MoD wants to reduce Serco’s contract by £250 million, a move the union says could put 100 jobs at risk and weaken the Royal Navy’s ability to operate 24/7, 365 days a year, a critical factor, particularly when it comes to managing the UK’s continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent.
Industrial Action Continues
Although full strike action has been suspended, Unite isn’t backing down. From Thursday, marine workers will begin “working to rule”, meaning they’ll follow regulations to the letter, refuse overtime, and avoid any flexibility normally expected in their roles.
Unite’s national officer, John McGookin, welcomed the decision to pause strikes but made it clear that the fight isn’t over:
“Unite is pleased that the MoD and Serco have acknowledged the concerns of our members, whose expertise and decades of experience are fundamental to the running of the Royal Navy’s afloat services.
There will now be a consultation period to ensure the service is fit for purpose under the new contract. During this period, strike action will be suspended, but action short of strikes will continue.”
What Happens Next?
The next 30 days will be crucial. If consultations fail to address workers’ concerns, full-scale strikes could return, potentially causing major disruption to Royal Navy operations.
For now, the ships will keep moving, but the battle over pay, contracts, and working conditions is far from over.
