Unite the union has today (07 May) responded to plans by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) to close its Inshore Lifeboat Centre.

Around 70 people work at the base in Cowes, Isle of Wight. They do a highly skilled role supplying and maintaining lifeboats for over half of the 238 stations run by the charity across the UK.

After months of speculation, the RNLI has today confirmed that it will be closing the site by 2028 at the latest. This will lead to job losses, have a detrimental effect on the local community as there are few work opportunities on the island and put the lifeboat service at risk, making it less safe for those who need it.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "It is extremely disappointing that the RNLI is determined to close this vital base. Should this go ahead, it will have a devastating impact on our members and their families. 

"Our members must not be high and dry. The RNLI must work with Unite to save these vital jobs."

The Isle of Wight has played a pivotal role in RNLI history. For over 60 years, workers at the Inshore Lifeboat Centre have built, maintained and repaired almost 2,000 lifeboats.

Since the RNLI announced last October that it was looking at potentially moving operations to its Support Centre in Poole, workers have been trying to achieve formal Unite recognition. While this was initially blocked by the employer, negotiations for recognition have since been ongoing.

Although management has said the RNLI is looking to keep the base open for a year and a half, Unite members at the Inshore Lifeboat Centre say that as it stands they only have enough work to last them until February. This is leaving them with a lot of uncertainty.

Meanwhile, the RNLI has also focused on redeployment as the main vehicle for supporting staff during this transition. However, the workforce say relocation to Poole where average house prices are upwards of £500,000 and the cost of living is higher is not a practical option as none of the staff earn enough for this to be viable.

Unite regional officer Jamie Major said: "Our immediate focus is to gain more clarity for our members and therefore we are demanding an urgent meeting with management. Our members deserve honesty from their employer and the RNLI must also find more realistic options for its staff than relocating to an area they cannot afford.

"Unite will not stand by and allow the RNLI to leave these skilled workers adrift. We will fight these devastating closure plans every step of the way and push the RNLI on more practical ways to support our members."

ENDS

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Email: natasha.wynarczyk@unitetheunion.org