Coastguard staff have to reapply for their jobs 14/7/11
All 23 posts at Stornoway coastguard station will be retained but serving staff will have to reapply for their jobs, Hebrides News has learnt.
Though the original drastic changes has been ditched, the drive to implement modernisation changes still goes on.
Eight coastguard stations are being axed with a large number of staff facing redundancy. The whole coastguard staffing structure can expect upheaval.
Watchkeepers duties and responsibilities and being redesigned with new job titles. The current posts will be abolished and its expected personnel will have to apply for the new employment. Coastguards salaries are expected to rise under the plans.
However, Clyde and Forth coastguard stations will be axed. The Clyde operational watch area is now expected to be spilt between Stornoway and Belfast.
In England and Wales, Portland, Liverpool, Yarmouth, Brixham, Thames and Swansea will shut.
The latest proposals call for 10 stations in the UK. A new centralised hub, or operational
centre, with 96 staff would be on the Solent. Some 28 employees would be retained
at Dover to cover the English Channel. There will be a small centre at London. The
other remaining saved stations will each have 23 personnel -
The government will now consult until 6th October over the new set of plans to revamp the service structured on a network of satellite bases, a new chain of command, expanded operational areas and redesigned jobs.