Members working for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) have voted to reject the 2023 pay offer.
A significant majority of members were unhappy with the one year 4.5% pay award, backdated to 1 July 2023, with 5% available to RFA cadets and apprentices.
The offer is separate from the RFA Shared Bonus Award Scheme, which applies from March 2024 and is due be discussed once the annual pay award is concluded.
The offer is also separate from the £1,500 one off non-consolidated cost of living payment which was paid to qualifying individuals in the August pay round.
The service has been informed of the result and significant frustration articulated by members, highlighting escalating concerns regarding future recruitment and retention due to continual erosion of living standards.
A further meeting to discuss other issues such as crewing/leave ratios, and banding has been arranged, following which members will be further consulted.
In July the then Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace advised that the projected growth of the civil service workforce is deemed unaffordable by the current government and introduced Civil Service recruitment controls. Investigations to establish what this means for the RFA are underway, and Commodore David Eagles has advised that the intent remains for the RFA to grow as planned.
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