3:54pm Wednesday 9th December 2009
By Corey Stephenson
HUNDREDS of people in Hampshire could be at risk of losing their jobs if any plans to privatise the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) go ahead, union leaders have warned.
It is expected that budget cuts for the Ministry of Defence will be outlined in today’s Pre- Budget Report and that Treasury demands could force defence bosses to look at privatising the fleet, which supplies fuel, food stores and ammunition to the Royal Navy.
With Marchwood being a key port for the RFA, leaders from the RMT Union warn that hundreds of people in Hampshire and the south would be hit following any changes that come with a reported £200m cut in the defence budget.
Although no RFA staff are permanently based at Marchwood, home to the Army’s 17 Port and Maritime Regiment, the unions say hundreds of members live near the port and across Southampton and Portsmouth.
RMT members have been told in briefings that the Treasury is demanding a ten per cent cut and that the department has been forced to look at plans to privatise the civilian-manned fleet, which is owned by the MoD.
RMT said yesterday that by speaking against any possible cuts they were hoping to raise a political backlash against any threats to the Navy’s “lifeline”, which consists of 16 vessels and around 2,000 personnel.
They also warned that selling the RFA to private companies would threaten the reliability and security to naval vessels as the drive for profits and cuts would override the quality of service as well as putting jobs at risk.
Steve Todd, RMT National Maritime Secretary, said: “Thousands of skilled merchant seafarers, serving the Royal Navy in war zones around the world and here at home, face the possibility of being slung on the scrap heap.
“That is a disgraceful kick in the teeth to brave seafarers who have played a vital role in conflict after conflict with many paying the ultimate price with their lives.”
A MoD spokesman said: “The MoD is working with the Treasury to look at ways we can improve efficiency across defence. We are considering a number of options and trade unions are fully engaged in the process.”
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