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

3rd April 2023

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

Email The Author

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.

We've got a favour to ask

More people are reading Afloat.ie than ever thanks to the power of the internet but we're in stormy seas because advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news sites, we haven’t put up a paywall because we want to keep our marine journalism open.

Afloat.ie is Ireland's only full–time marine journalism team and it takes time, money and hard work to produce our content.

So you can see why we need to ask for your help.

If everyone chipped in, we can enhance our coverage and our future would be more secure. You can help us through a small donation. Thank you.

You might also want to read...

Irish Lighthouses

Irish Lights is a maritime organisation delivering essential 24/7 safety and navigation services around the coast of Ireland 365 days. Its focus is reliable and cost-effective services which protect people, property and the marine environment, and support marine industry and coastal communities.

Irish Lights is responsible for providing marine aids to navigation under the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) convention. This remit includes: providing and maintaining over 300 general aids to navigation, managing about 4,000 local aids to navigation and marking or removing dangerous wrecks outside harbour areas around Ireland. Irish Lights also provides contract commercial services for ship charter, buoy and marine data services and supports tourism and heritage activities.

Emergency Response: If you notice any aid to navigation is not functioning correctly please contact our 24-hour emergency number 01 280 1996

Great Lighthouses of Ireland

St John's Point, Co Donegal
Fanad Head, Co Donegal
Rathlin West Light, Co Antrim
Blackhead, Co Antrim
St John’s Point, Co Down
Wicklow Head, Co Wicklow
The Great Light and Titanic Walkway, Belfast
Hook, Co Wexford
Ballycotton, Co Cork
Galley Head, Co Cork
Valentia Island, Co Kerry
Loop Head, Co Clare
Clare Island, Co Mayo
Fastnet Rock Boat Tours

Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

See All Featured Sections

Featured Sailing School

Featured Clubs

Featured Brokers

Featured Associations

Featured Chandleries

Featured Sailmakers

Featured Blogs