Workers at Northern Lighthouse Board Warn Sea Beacons 'Could Go Out' if Strikes Approved

3rd April 2023

Jehan Ashmore

Lighthouse pay dispute as workers warn sea beacons 'could go out' if strikes approved. The Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) maintain 208 lighthouses across Scotland and the Isle of Man. AFLOAT adds, above is Fair Isle South which on 31st March, marked the 25th Anniversary of when the last of Scotland’s manned lighthouses was automated. The historic event also signalled the end of Scotland’s 200-year-old tradition of lighthouse keeping. The optic uses a MFR rotating LED and is the first of a new generation for NLB. Credit: NLB-UK-twitter

In Scotland workers at the Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) the General Lighthouse Authority for the country and the Isle of Man, are set to vote on whether to walk out for the first time in a dispute over pay.

The GLA which has its main marine depot in Oban, deploys and maintains beacons and buoys, could go out if lighthouse workers vote for strike action in a dispute over pay, a union has warned.

Members of Unite, which are employed by the NLB, are being balloted on the strike action in what the union said is a historic first.

Unite said the NLB has offered 2% following a pay freeze last year.

In response the union branded “insulting”, describing it as a substantial real-terms pay cut over two years.

Around 30 Unite members, including able-seamen from the NLB’s two aids to navigation vessels, base assistants, cooks and technicians, will take part in the ballot.

The ballot opened on Tuesday March 28 and is to close on Monday April 24.

About The Author

Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals.

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