Royal Fleet Auxiliary Personnel to Strike Over Pay Dispute Amid Russian Vessel Tracking Duties

Personnel from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA), the civilian support arm of the Royal Navy, are scheduled to stage industrial action on Thursday after rejecting a pay offer from the Ministry of Defence. The workers, who track Russian warships, report a real-terms wage decline over the past decade. The strike occurs as the Royal Navy monitors increased Russian naval activity in British waters.

The RMT union represents these workers, who operate in demanding sea conditions with shifts up to 12 hours daily.

The RMT states that its members' wages have fallen in real terms over the past decade. A union spokesperson said the Ministry of Defence needs to provide a long-term commitment to improving pay and conditions to retain staff.

“Our members play a vital role in supporting the Navy, often in some of the most demanding and dangerous working conditions. But they have faced years of below-par pay and unresolved concerns about conditions.”

The spokesperson added that workers would not accept the offer and are prepared for further action if needed. The union's position highlights ongoing concerns about pay and working conditions in the RFA.

The RFA has taken on increased responsibilities for tracking Russian vessels as the Royal Navy's fleet has reduced to its smallest size in recent history. Tasks previously handled by frigates now often fall to civilian RFA vessels. This week, GB News reported that an RFA tanker crewed by civilians tracked a Russian frigate through the English Channel.

The operation followed shadow fleet tankers used to export oil in defiance of sanctions funding Russia's war in Ukraine. The Royal Navy confirmed an operation to track multiple Russian vessels around the UK. Monitored vessels included a Russian submarine, a landing ship, and a submarine.