Workers at the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)’s closing inshore lifeboat centre on the Isle of Wight have voted to strike amid their dispute over redundancy terms being offered by the charity.

Action will take place on 11, 19 and 25 of August. Workers will also ask businesses and travellers at the ferry port in East Cowes near to the their site to support their petition around the job losses.

Around 50 workers at the centre were balloted by their union Unite for strike action in June as they look to secure improvements to their redundancy packages.

The centre will close by 2028 as the charity looks to consolidate its lifeboat building at its base in Poole, Dorset.

Unite says the charity is not improving redundancy payments as it is already offering a "generous" relocation allowance to staff who move to Dorset, says Unite.

Unite says strike action also follows a breakdown in talks involving conciliatory body ACAS.

“For most workers at the Inshore Lifeboat Centre, relocating to Poole, a more expensive area, from the island isn’t feasible for their finances or their families,” said Unite.

“The union is calling on the RNLI to negotiate a fair package for these workers that will be made redundant after the organisation promised them a job for life”.

Unite generation secretary Sharon Graham added: “The behaviour of the RNLI throughout this dispute has been a complete disgrace. While our members face uncertainty about their futures, it has refused to engage meaningfully with the union.

“Expecting workers to relocate to a completely new area, without any financial renumeration or thought as to the impact on their personal lives is completely unfair. Our members must be supported by their employer.

“This dispute can be easily avoided by the RNLI, but it relies on it changing tack and negotiating with Unite. Our members continue to have the union's full backing."

The RNLI has been contacted for comment.

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