A MESSAGE FROM YOUR NATIONAL SECRETARY
Dear Colleagues,
This is an update on several key issues and developments at RFA which we hope you find useful.
Your convenor, Ian Parkin, has been working tirelessly on your behalf attending meetings and carrying out shipboard visits to keep members fully updated of developments in many areas of concern.
We have seen a positive response form RFA management, and industrial relations have improved since the pay dispute ended. We need to impress
upon management the issues that have been consistently raised in recent years and look to work smarter and more effectively to deliver the necessary improvements.
I would also like to thank the membership for your participation in the recent survey about branch allocation of RFA members and responses to requests for volunteers to set up an RFA organising committee. We will look to progress things through your union national executive committee over the next couple of weeks and look forward to having input from a wider section of the membership and more people active in the union.
Regards,
Darren Procter
RMT shipboard visit to Cammel Laird earlier this month
Rates of Pay and Conditions of service 24/25
We have received a plan for the pay award and related terms, which was finalised after we requested the special bonus award qualifying criteria dates be reduced to 126 days to reflect the shorter period, as the union and some members thought that the 167 days was not fair as this was used in the past bonus awards and had longer qualifying periods.
The following payment plan is expected over the next 3 months:
• March 2025 - Pay award and back-pay which is 6.5% with 2 x £750 bonuses.
• April 2025 - Bonus payment (for those eligible) Full time £1113.92, Part time £735.19, Apprentices £455.56.
• May 2025 - Implementation and back-pay for Short-Hand Allowance of 3%, this will be spread across all eligible employees.
The appeal window for the bonus award will run from 1st May 2025 to close of play 31 May 2025 and emails should be sent to NavyPeople-RFAResourceTeam@mod.gov.uk Any member should contact the RFA convenor for any further advice or assistance.
If any dates change this will be communicated to RMT members ASAP.
Rates of Pay and Conditions of service 25/26
Following the acceptance of the 24/25 pay award talks we will convene on the 25/26 award. It is hoped to establish a pattern of terms for future negotiations, and we will be working with our sister maritime trade union, Nautilus to achieve this. As always, our members will always have the final say on what is acceptable.
Our objective is to improve retention and assist recruitment of the best people by working effectively with management to make the RFA desirable and create an environment where individuals can develop a career, like how it used to be!
Your priorities
It is important that members continue to discuss their priorities and how the union can progress these important issues for the membership.
Whilst pay will always be top of that list there will be other issues which will change over time.
It is crucial that these are discussed and raised appropriately, either through your shipboard rep, convenor or through your branch.
RMT Cammel Laird shipboard visit March 2025
MEMBER
BENEFITS
The following are benefits that are available to RMT members:
• Individual and collective representation within the workplace supported by local, regional, and national representatives.
• Full representation at disciplinaries, grievances, flexible working request meetings, welfare meetings, and attendance management hearings.
• Better pay
• Improved conditions
• Health and safety protection
• Legal cover – workplace and criminal for members and their families.
• A credit union
• Accident benefit
• Orphan benefit
• Retirement benefit
• Free will service
• Death grant
All member benefits can be found on the website at www.rmt.org.uk
It is important to remind those not in the union of the benefits of being in the union and also raise awareness amongst our current membership of the benefits that RMT as a trade union offers.
Collective Bargaining Agreement
Work has already begun on drafting a CBA and a meeting is planned for 19 March. We are currently exchanging information on the content and mechanisms of a CBA. We will continue to keep you updated on developments and progress in due course.
Quarterly Meeting
The next RFA/RMT meeting is scheduled to commence on 2 April, and as always if you would like a matter to be considered for the agenda then please get in contact with your convenor.
Policy changes and simplifications
Following several members providing details to the convenor surrounding issues with policies, a meeting was held with RFA management to discuss these matters in detail. We have identified a need for family friendly policies to be more accessible and consistent applied b management. It is also vital that management enter into dialogue with RMT prior to changes being made so that we are fully aware of intended changes and the implications for our membership. If any members are facing difficulty with policies, please contact the RFAConvenor@RMT.org.uk so we can take the issue up on your behalf.
It’s your responsibility too!
It is the responsibility of every member to encourage those that are not currently RMT members to join the union and be a part of the collective voice onboard. I would ask that every member attempts to develop our membership by making every effort to recruit an individual who is not currently a member of the RMT. It has never been easier to join, and members can join by simply clicking the QR code below, visiting the website or calling 0800 376 3706.
