37% of Wales coastguards may cut hours over pay changes, GMB survey finds
More than 350 coastguards across Wales responded to a survey which found 37 per cent would be forced to reduce their hours or stop volunteering if planned pay cuts go ahead.
The survey was carried out by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and its results were leaked to the GMB union.
Coastguard Rescue Officers have received around £11 an hour for attending callouts and training exercises, with a minimum payment equivalent to three hours, around £33, even if an incident was resolved quickly.
The MCA is removing those payments after the Court of Appeal upheld a ruling in January 2026 classifying Coastguard Rescue Officers as workers, rather than volunteers, for duties they could claim pay for.
The case was brought by former Coastguard Rescue Officer Martin Groom, who challenged the MCA at an employment tribunal in 2022.
That tribunal initially found in favour of the MCA, but an employment appeal tribunal overturned the decision in 2024, a ruling later upheld by the Court of Appeal.
Flint Coastguard Rescue Team is one of a number of stations across Wales affected by the changes.
Nicola Savage, GMB National Officer, said: “These cruel cuts are going to rip the heart out of a lifesaving emergency service millions of people rely on.”
“Coastguards across the UK risk their own lives to keep us safe, the very least they should expect is paying for their time and expenses.”
“If the MCA pushes ahead with these unprecedented cuts, the Coastguard that has protected us for more than 200 years could cease to exist as we know it.”
The MCA said it would move to a “revised volunteer model.”
An MCA spokesperson said: “This decision follows a legal judgment, which means we need to change how the service operates.”
“This new model protects choice, flexibility and the ability for people to volunteer alongside their primary employment.”
“We deeply value and recognise the significant service Coastguard Rescue Officers provide along our coastline, and we will be supporting them during this transition.”
The MCA said volunteers would still be able to claim some compensation for certain activities, and would continue to receive training, equipment, operational support, uniforms and personal protective equipment.
Orkney and Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael said he had written to MCA chief executive Virginia McVea to demand a meeting.
He said: “No one volunteers with the coastguard for the sake of the remuneration involved, but those payments matter, both as recognition of the dangerous and important work that volunteers do, and as a way to make such volunteering financially viable.”
“Cutting such remuneration is likely to undermine morale amongst local crews, harm future recruitment of volunteers, and could even risk causing active resignations from the service.”
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