Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Seafarers

The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) is vitally important in supporting the Royal Navy’s operations. Its dedication and expertise underpin national security, humanitarian missions, and global maritime efforts. Despite its vital service, RFA seafarers continue to face unfair pay disparities and worsening conditions. 

This is fundamentally unjust. My Liberal Democrat parliamentary colleagues and I are committed to fairness, respect for workers, and ensuring that those who serve our country receive the pay and conditions they deserve. RFA seafarers must not be undervalued, nor face stagnating wages and increased workloads. Without action, we risk losing what is an essential branch of public service.  

This threatens the RFA’s ability to recruit and retain personnel, which in turn could undermine operational effectiveness. This will, of course, have a knock-on effect for the UK, let alone the burden felt by currently serving RFA personnel, who should not be expected to bear the burden of pay freezes and real-terms wage cuts while government budgets are mismanaged elsewhere. 

My colleagues and I will continue to press the government to guarantee fair and competitive wages for RFA seafarers, protect working conditions by addressing excessive workloads and improving welfare support, and ensure pay negotiations are fair and transparent. 

It was great to see the Nautilus International members within the RFA voting to accept an improved, above-inflation pay offer for the 2024/25 period in January this year. This represents a substantial step forward in addressing pay and retention challenges within the RFA. I will continue to monitor the situation closely as negotiations for the 2025/26 pay agreement commence in the coming weeks and hope to see lasting improvements soon. 

I stand with RFA seafarers and will support the case for a fair deal that properly reflects their contribution to our country.