Yesterday I supported the @RMTunion in calling for the RFA to get a decent pay rise. Watch this to see why the RFA deserve paying properly @MickCashRMT_GS @spellar pic.twitter.com/TbCtuH54cy

— Luke Pollard MP (@LukePollard) July 18, 2019

This week, Luke continued his campaign for a decent pay rise for the seafarers who serve in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary with a special rally in Westminster organised by the RMT trade union. Members of the RMT Parliamentary Group attended the event outside Parliament including Ian Mears MP, the Chair of the group, Andy McDonald MP, the Shadow Transport Secretary and Angela Rayner MP, the Shadow Education Secretary.

Luke said:

“I have the privilege of going to see on RFA Tideforce last week and saw for myself the expertise and dedication of the men and women who serve in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Without the RFA the Royal Navy would not be able to deliver its global role and that is why I am continuing to campaign for the RFA seafarers to get a decent pay rise. Last year the Royal Navy got 2.9% reflecting inflation but the RFA only got 1.5% which is a real terms pay cut. We need everyone who serves on the frontline to know they’re valued by the Government not just with warm words but with a decent inflation pay rise each year.”

Luke recently spent a day at sea on RFA Tideforce, one of the RFA’s new tankers, to see how the RFA train. The day included witnessing a ‘RAS’ or replenishment at sea. Luke was on board Tideforce as part of his participation in the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme which is designed to give MPs a chance to learn more about how the armed forces work. Find out more here.

You can read about Luke’s day at sea in this article from the Plymouth Herald here.