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Published:
April 17, 2007
Burnham-On-Sea
Coastguards join protest over compensation
 Burnham-On-Sea
Coastguards have this week joined a nationwide protest in a row
over compensation payments.
Five
Burnham Coastguards have switched off their emergency pagers in
support of a fellow Coastguard from Wales who lost his job after
suffering serious injuries during a cliff rescue.
It
emerged this week that volunteer Brian MacFarlane was left partially
disabled after being injured during the rescue of an animal down
a steep cliff face. The 38-year-old father lost his main job as
a residential social worker and says he has not been given fair
compensation.
Several
local Coastguard teams have walked out in support of him following
a meeting of the Severn Sector Coastguard teams on Monday (April
16th). Weston and Clevedon are unmanned and Burnham is operating
at 50 per cent.
Burnham-On-Sea
Coastguard Station Officer Steve Bird said: "The level of
accidental cover for Coastguards is very poor - it covers just
the minimum wage - so we've decided to back our colleague in Wales."
"We're
offering a skeleton staff with five of the team on duty and five
off. Those who are remaining have their own independent insurance
cover in place."
"This
isn't a strike - we're just not providing out usual full service
until the matter is fully resolved. While we want to provide our
normal service, we all have to put our families and livelihoods
first."
The
Maritime and Coastguard Agency says it recognises there is an
issue over insurance and discussions are ongoing to identify the
areas where officers and not adequately covered.
RELATED LINKS:
Burnham-On-Sea
Coastguard
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