A controversy has erupted in the UK Coastguard over a decision to drop payments to volunteers involved in emergencies.
As The Times UK reports, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) opted to strip volunteers of payments in response to a Court of Appeal ruling last January that classed volunteers as “working” while carrying out their duties for pay of £11 (sterling) per hour.
There are fears that this might result in a reduction of community rescue officers (CROs), according to Alistair Carmichael, the MP for Orkney & Shetland.
There are about 3,500 trained CROs trained in search and rescue in 287 volunteer coastguard rescue teams across Britain.
The MCA was quoted in the newspaper as stating that stripping volunteers of the payments was the only way to “protect choice, flexibility and the ability for people to volunteer alongside their primary employment”.
The controversy has led to accusations of bullying against MCA chief executive Virginia McVea, the newspaper reports.
It says that the allegations have been submitted to the MCA and Britain’s Department of Transport, and related to a meeting on March 10th last in the MCA’s Belfast office.
The Department for Transport, which operates the MCA, told the newspaper that “it would not be appropriate to confirm or comment on specific cases, particularly where matters may be subject to live investigation, to protect confidentiality and ensure due process”.
“We take all complaints seriously and have well-established policies and processes in place to review and investigate any concerns raised.”
The MCA said it has “robust policies against bullying and harassment and takes all concerns raised by colleagues extremely seriously”.
Carmichael, who opposes the plan to drop payments to CROs, said it was apparent to him that there was a “crisis of leadership within the agency”.
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