Unite has hit out at the Royal National Lifeboat Institution's refusal to formally recognise the union at one of its major UK sites.

Staff at the charity's Inshore Lifeboat Centre, which is based at Cowes on the Isle of Wight, have been calling for Unite recognition at their workplace after the RNLI announced last year that it was considering closing the facility and putting their jobs at risk.

However, after Unite formally wrote to the RNLI earlier this month asking for recognition, the organisation responded by saying this was not needed as there was already a works council in place. This argument does not stand up legally, as a works council does not undertake the independent collective bargaining or negotiation which can only be done by a trade union.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "At a time where workers at the RNLI's Inshore Lifeboat Centre need union recognition more than ever, their employer is denying them the fundamental right to be represented by an independent union, their basic rights to negotiation and bargaining.

"This is totally unacceptable and Unite will not stand for it. The RNLI must listen to its staff and allow them to have their voices heard collectively."

There are around 70 workers at the Inshore Lifeboat Centre. These highly skilled members of staff supply and maintain lifeboats for over half of the 238 stations run by the charity across the UK and the majority of them are Unite members.

While it has not given a rationale to staff for the closure plans, the RNLI has said it is looking to consolidate its lifeboat manufacturing into one site, its Support Centre in Poole, from the end of 2027, which would mean job losses. There are concerns that losing this experienced workforce will put the lifeboat service at risk and make it less safe for those who need it.

Unite is now set to begin the formal legal process to recognise the union, going through the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) asking for statutory recognition. 

Unite regional co-ordinating officer Jamie Major said: "It is deeply disappointing that an organisation such as the RNLI is choosing to go down this route of refusing to recognise Unite and deploying tactics to avoid giving its hardworking staff a voice.

"Unite has no choice but to begin the formal legal process to ensure our members have proper representation and leverage over what happens to their jobs, pay and conditions - especially given the current situation which has left these workers with huge uncertainty around their futures." 

ENDS

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Email: natasha.wynarczyk@unitetheunion.org