Members of the Prospect union working at UKHO (UK Hydrographic Office) have voted resoundingly to take industrial action over real terms pay cuts and threats to jobs, terms and conditions today.

The strike action takes place today (15 March) by Prospect members at the UKHO in Taunton. At UKHO, Prospect members produce products and data to support navigation and the safety of life at sea, both for commercial shipping and the Royal Navy.

According to a press statement, the members’ ‘willingness to act is a sign of how serious real terms pay cuts are to their ability to meet the growing cost of living’.

UKHO Prospect says: ‘Our highly skilled members are passionate about this mission and want to ensure our ability to fulfill this task is protected. Sadly, we are seeing experienced friends and colleagues leave the organisation, seeking better pay, and the business is struggling to replace them.

Members have seen 11 years of real terms pay cuts and incomes at UKHO have fallen by over 20 per cent since 2010. The current cost of living crisis has made this situation worse, with members taking second jobs, struggling to pay their bills, and seeing quality of life decline.

The current mandate for industrial action lasts for six months and further action (including further days of strike action) may be announced if insufficient progress is made in resolving the dispute.

Image courtesy of UKHO and gov.uk.

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