graham
Well-Known Member
Do you think £12000 plus 25%shift allowance is reasonable for a Coastguard Watch assistant.This rises about £2k when or if they are promoted to Watch Officer.
CoastGuard Pay Poll
- Thread starter graham
- Start date
savageseadog
Well-Known Member
There isn't an option for letting market forces apply. Public sector wages can be upped by 30% for the generous pensions and benefits all employees receive. It's not really a high stress job is it?
Stand by for flames /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Stand by for flames /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
graham
Well-Known Member
I imagine it can be stressfull at times. No need for flaming though the poll speaks for itself.
Ceejay
Well-Known Member
Graham
I would like to feel more sympathy for the Coastguard than I do as I am a poorly paid Public Sector employee myself, BUT working as you know I do on commercial craft I don't like the way in which the role and manner of the Coastguard has changed in recent times towards commercial operators. The Coastguard used to be there to help if one got into difficulties but in recent times they seem to act more like the Traffic Police of the seaways, and always looking to prosecute if at all possible. Personally if I got into difficulties at sea the Coastguard are the last people I would contact, I would prefer to try to secure help by mobile phone, if time allowed, from friends and acquaintances. The Coastguard like to butt in on any situations involving commercial craft where they think they may be able to prosecute.
Having said that I believe that there is a necessary policing role to be done but in my opinion the Coastguard are way too zealous
All the best for 2008
Charlie
I would like to feel more sympathy for the Coastguard than I do as I am a poorly paid Public Sector employee myself, BUT working as you know I do on commercial craft I don't like the way in which the role and manner of the Coastguard has changed in recent times towards commercial operators. The Coastguard used to be there to help if one got into difficulties but in recent times they seem to act more like the Traffic Police of the seaways, and always looking to prosecute if at all possible. Personally if I got into difficulties at sea the Coastguard are the last people I would contact, I would prefer to try to secure help by mobile phone, if time allowed, from friends and acquaintances. The Coastguard like to butt in on any situations involving commercial craft where they think they may be able to prosecute.
Having said that I believe that there is a necessary policing role to be done but in my opinion the Coastguard are way too zealous
All the best for 2008
Charlie
graham
Well-Known Member
Seasons greetings Charlie.I know what your saying but I also work and play at sea on small boats.If the water started rising rapidly in the bilge or fire broke out etc etc I dont think I would be calling my mate on the mobile.I know it sometimes appears that they overreact to situations but they have to err on the side of safety if in doubt.
Personally I feel safer for knowing theres a proffesional person sat ready on the end of a radio or phone to coordinate help should I need it.
Best Regards Graham
Personally I feel safer for knowing theres a proffesional person sat ready on the end of a radio or phone to coordinate help should I need it.
Best Regards Graham
Koeketiene
Well-Known Member
It's nice to see that so many people voted for a pay increase for the CG. I've also found that when medical care/housing/pay/pensions for the armed forces are discussed a lot of people seem to agree that it's not good enough. Similarly for doctors/nurses, teachers, etc...
Yet, come election time - which party does the public vote for? More often than not for the party promising the biggest tax cut.
No-one wants to pay for these wage increases.
More taxation or larger public debt or shoddy wages... decisions, decisions...
Pay peanuts - get monkeys
Yet, come election time - which party does the public vote for? More often than not for the party promising the biggest tax cut.
No-one wants to pay for these wage increases.
More taxation or larger public debt or shoddy wages... decisions, decisions...
Pay peanuts - get monkeys
savageseadog
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
.............. but in recent times they seem to act more like the Traffic Police of the seaways, and always looking to prosecute if at all possible. Personally if I got into difficulties at sea the Coastguard are the last people I would contact, I would prefer to try to secure help by mobile phone, if time allowed, from friends and acquaintances. The Coastguard like to butt in on any situations involving commercial craft where they think they may be able to prosecute.
Having said that I believe that there is a necessary policing role to be done but in my opinion the Coastguard are way too zealous
All the best for 2008
Charlie
[/ QUOTE ] Tthe same goes for pleasure craft. I think there is a fair bit of empire building and power grabbing going on. Everywhere you go these days there are multiple agencies zooming around in expensive mega ribs demanding this that and the other. It won't be long before a fleet of a dozen of these things will be chasing us all around, it will be Police, Port Authority, Immigration, Customs, anti terrorism, Pollution, coatguard and so on.
.............. but in recent times they seem to act more like the Traffic Police of the seaways, and always looking to prosecute if at all possible. Personally if I got into difficulties at sea the Coastguard are the last people I would contact, I would prefer to try to secure help by mobile phone, if time allowed, from friends and acquaintances. The Coastguard like to butt in on any situations involving commercial craft where they think they may be able to prosecute.
Having said that I believe that there is a necessary policing role to be done but in my opinion the Coastguard are way too zealous
All the best for 2008
Charlie
[/ QUOTE ] Tthe same goes for pleasure craft. I think there is a fair bit of empire building and power grabbing going on. Everywhere you go these days there are multiple agencies zooming around in expensive mega ribs demanding this that and the other. It won't be long before a fleet of a dozen of these things will be chasing us all around, it will be Police, Port Authority, Immigration, Customs, anti terrorism, Pollution, coatguard and so on.
VicS
Well-Known Member
Too many unknowns to vote in your poll.
What are the duties and responsibilities of a watch assistant and what is the structure of the team on any particular shift. How are the duties and responsibilities allocated to the team members and what are the salaries of the others? What qualifications are required for the various positions?
If the watch assistant is required to make the tea and answer the telephone before handing it to a more senior officer then £12k may not be that bad. If they are required to have a degree or equivalent qualification and to handle many calls for assistance themselves then I would agree it it not so good.
25% shift allowance sounds generous to me but maybe I have forgotten what allowance our shift Engineers were paid.
Continuing the hard line approach I note there are no vacancies on the website at present. That suggests the present salaries attract adequate numbers of the type of people they require. The taxpayer won't expect his taxes to be spent paying higher salaries than necessary.
What are the duties and responsibilities of a watch assistant and what is the structure of the team on any particular shift. How are the duties and responsibilities allocated to the team members and what are the salaries of the others? What qualifications are required for the various positions?
If the watch assistant is required to make the tea and answer the telephone before handing it to a more senior officer then £12k may not be that bad. If they are required to have a degree or equivalent qualification and to handle many calls for assistance themselves then I would agree it it not so good.
25% shift allowance sounds generous to me but maybe I have forgotten what allowance our shift Engineers were paid.
Continuing the hard line approach I note there are no vacancies on the website at present. That suggests the present salaries attract adequate numbers of the type of people they require. The taxpayer won't expect his taxes to be spent paying higher salaries than necessary.
EdWingfield
Well-Known Member
Cant vote without more info.
Q? Are they finding it easy to recruit?
Ans yes - pay ok.
Ans No - pay should be increased.
Q? Are they finding it easy to recruit?
Ans yes - pay ok.
Ans No - pay should be increased.
chrishelen
N/A
I seem to remember the coastgaurd advertising for volunteers in my area last summer,i think the structure is one paid watch leader the rest volunteers,about 12 in total.on call 24 hours a day 365 days a year.give em more money.
alldownwind
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
I seem to remember the coastgaurd advertising for volunteers in my area last summer,i think the structure is one paid watch leader the rest volunteers,about 12 in total.on call 24 hours a day 365 days a year.give em more money.
[/ QUOTE ]
No no no.
All the people who work in a MRCC are paid MCA staff. Each watch is led by a watch manager. He/she will have a team of about 6-8 people, the most lowly of whom are CWA (Coastguard Watch Assistant), of whom the pay issue is mainly about.
The volunteers you speak of are the the people in CRT's (Coast Rescue Teams).These are typically made up of up to 12 local people who are the ones that actually respond to emergencies. They are on call (on a rota) 24x7x365 and are paid if they turn out, otherwise unpaid. I know, I am one.
Groups of CRT's (3 in our case) in a local area called a 'sector' are managed by a Sector Manager who is also fulltime paid MCA staff.
OK?
I seem to remember the coastgaurd advertising for volunteers in my area last summer,i think the structure is one paid watch leader the rest volunteers,about 12 in total.on call 24 hours a day 365 days a year.give em more money.
[/ QUOTE ]
No no no.
All the people who work in a MRCC are paid MCA staff. Each watch is led by a watch manager. He/she will have a team of about 6-8 people, the most lowly of whom are CWA (Coastguard Watch Assistant), of whom the pay issue is mainly about.
The volunteers you speak of are the the people in CRT's (Coast Rescue Teams).These are typically made up of up to 12 local people who are the ones that actually respond to emergencies. They are on call (on a rota) 24x7x365 and are paid if they turn out, otherwise unpaid. I know, I am one.
Groups of CRT's (3 in our case) in a local area called a 'sector' are managed by a Sector Manager who is also fulltime paid MCA staff.
OK?
chrishelen
N/A
I stand corrected. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
chanelyacht
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
He/she will have a team of about 6-8 people, the most lowly of whom are CWA (Coastguard Watch Assistant), of whom the pay issue is mainly about.
OK?
[/ QUOTE ]
Not often.
Most stations operate on around 3 /4 per watch, including Watch Manager. Dover is different as it monitors the Channel Navigation system, Falmouth is different as they have UK satellite, worldwide relay and Navtex responsibilities. Solent and Portland tend to be different due to sheer volume of calls handled.
He/she will have a team of about 6-8 people, the most lowly of whom are CWA (Coastguard Watch Assistant), of whom the pay issue is mainly about.
OK?
[/ QUOTE ]
Not often.
Most stations operate on around 3 /4 per watch, including Watch Manager. Dover is different as it monitors the Channel Navigation system, Falmouth is different as they have UK satellite, worldwide relay and Navtex responsibilities. Solent and Portland tend to be different due to sheer volume of calls handled.
graham
Well-Known Member
Isnt it odd how those who think a CG watch assistant/officer doesnt deserve more pay seem to be dominating the discussions while the Poll indicates over 3/4 support your campaign for a decent wage?
chanelyacht
Well-Known Member
Always the way..80/20 rule I guess!
BTW, it isn't my campaign, I merely was amazed reading a recent news article and having some dealings with HMCG professionally, but I'm amazed by how much support we as a group have been able to give to those running the petition.
BTW, it isn't my campaign, I merely was amazed reading a recent news article and having some dealings with HMCG professionally, but I'm amazed by how much support we as a group have been able to give to those running the petition.
BlueSkyNick
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
It's nice to see that so many people voted for a pay increase for the CG. I've also found that when medical care/housing/pay/pensions for the armed forces are discussed a lot of people seem to agree that it's not good enough. Similarly for doctors/nurses, teachers, etc...
Yet, come election time - which party does the public vote for? More often than not for the party promising the biggest tax cut.
No-one wants to pay for these wage increases.
More taxation or larger public debt or shoddy wages... decisions, decisions...
Pay peanuts - get monkeys
[/ QUOTE ]
This misses the point that most people want to pay less tax by government reducing wasted expenditure, not by taking it out on employees who deserve to be rewarded for what they do.
It's nice to see that so many people voted for a pay increase for the CG. I've also found that when medical care/housing/pay/pensions for the armed forces are discussed a lot of people seem to agree that it's not good enough. Similarly for doctors/nurses, teachers, etc...
Yet, come election time - which party does the public vote for? More often than not for the party promising the biggest tax cut.
No-one wants to pay for these wage increases.
More taxation or larger public debt or shoddy wages... decisions, decisions...
Pay peanuts - get monkeys
[/ QUOTE ]
This misses the point that most people want to pay less tax by government reducing wasted expenditure, not by taking it out on employees who deserve to be rewarded for what they do.