SINCE 1514 there has never been a strike over pay at Trinity House but after nine years of Conservative austerity policies, history has once again been made. As usual it does not reflect well on the government.

After nine years of inadequate or no pay increase and after unsuccessful discussions with management, who were reported as saying “there is nothing they can do,” Unite members employed by Trinity House showed they have had enough by voting in a ballot to take strike action with a 90 per cent majority.

On April 3 2019, members in Harwich took to the picket line in a historic strike over pay. Seafarers from the Patricia Galatea and the Alert ships walked out of work for 24 hours but were met with an insensitive response by the employer.

A letter was sent out to all members planning to strike making it clear that if staff did not attend to emergencies during the 24-hour strike they could be liable for individual prosecution.

Unite official Miles Hubbard said: “Staff would have attended any emergencies but this was a pretty heavy-handed way of dealing with an industrial dispute. It also shows that we have a totally sound argument that they are emergency workers and should be made a special case under austerity.”

All boats were removed from the Harwich Quay in an attempt to divert attention from the strike action but staff with the backing of the union are resolved to make a stand. Which is why a further demonstration on April 24, which saw members of Unite’s national executive attending, was necessary to continue to show their resolve to obtain a fair pay increase.

Over 500 years of history including the employ of famous Master and diarist Samuel Pepys have made Trinity House a recognised and respected organisation in Britain.

Its spokesperson says: “All our staff are highly valued, but Trinity House salaries are subject to public-sector pay policy, and all staff have been awarded the maximum possible within the Civil Service rules.”

Catering manager and Unite rep Jamie Campbell says: “We tried to go to them with ideas but they keep putting it on us to come up with these super ideas to get awards but that’s not for us to do, we’ve met many times but we’ve come to an abrupt end now.”

Hubbard adds: “They want the staff to come up with some marvellous idea to save money so they can give us a decent pay rise but it’s not the place of the workers, they are the management, they know where the money is.”

Staff and Unite officials are hopeful that a meeting on May 10 with management will move the pay discussion forward but it is likely that a vote on a ballot for a second strike may take place if the impasse remains.

The demonstration was optimistic and upbeat, staff were supported by local Labour councillors Ivan Henderson and Charles Powell along with the president of Norwich and District Council and chair of Norfolk’s Unite Community Geraldine Murphy. They came with a message of solidarity and support for the demonstrators.

Local drivers showed their support by tooting as they drove past the picket and an unusual 12ft inflatable demonstrator called Scabby the Rat who attracted a lot of attention.

The seafarers at Trinity House do an important job of keeping British waters safe, maintaining approximately 11,000 navigation aids, whilst also attending emergencies, marking new sea wrecks and other hazards.

Three years ago, staff were promised a 6 per cent pay rise, which would have seen their wages increase to be more comparative with other maritime workers but below-inflation wage increases are all that have been offered at this time.

This is another example of Conservative austerity policies negatively impacting public services, especially those of vital emergency services. Conservative members say “we are all in this together” and ex-prime minister David Cameron said that of the country. However, in the last 10 years public service workers have had little to no pay rises, whilst in the same time period MPs have had their pay increased by just under 21 per cent. When will the workers be in it together? Because the majority of Britain could well do with a 21 per cent pay rise.