Navy lifeline under threat in government cuts plan

MARITIME UNION RMT today pledged to mobilise a national political and public fight against any plans to privatise the Royal navy's supplies lifeline – the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) – as a consequence of a reported £200 million cuts demand that the Treasury have imposed on the Ministry of Defence.

Briefings to staff over the past four weeks have confirmed that Treasury demands for 10% cuts in MoD budgets have forced the department to look at plans to privatise the Royal Fleet Auxiliary – which supplies fuel, food stores and ammunition to the naval fleet – and an announcement on a review of the RAF, including the privatisation option, is expected this week as part of the Pre Budget Report.

RMT is warning that the flogging off of the RFA to private companies would threaten the reliability and security of this vital lifeline to our naval vessels around the world as the drive for profits and cuts would override the quality of service. The MoD would also lose direct control of the most essential element of the Royal Navy's support structure.

RMT has also pointed out that a review of the of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary just two years ago concluded that the service was first rate and that there was no need to review it again until 2020.

Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary, said:

"The government should be under no illusions. RMT will mobilise a political and public campaign on a massive scale to fight off any moves to privatise the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. There is no doubt there will be angry backlash against any attempt to compromise national security by embarking on a cash-led sell off of this essential lifeline to our naval crews all around the globe."

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. This ill-conceived privatisation proposal must be stopped now."