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Union pledges to fight any RFA privatisation
A UNION has pledged to mobilise a public fight against any plans to privatise the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) - the Royal Navy's supplies lifeline.
Officials from maritime union RMT said they were privy to briefings last week which confirmed MoD staff have been told to examine options to privatise all or part of the RFA.
RFA workers and supporters have already shown their concerns since they were first told about privitisation plans back in October, as revealed in The News.
RMT warned the 'flogging off' of the RFA to private companies would threaten the reliability and security of naval vessels around the world as the drive for profits and cuts would override the quality of service.
The unions said the MoD would also lose direct control of the most essential element of the Royal Navy's support structure.
More than 2,400 people signed a 10 Downing Street petition against privatisation earlier this year. Bob Crow, RMT general secretary, said: 'The government should be under no illusions. RMT will mobilise a political and public campaign on a massive scale to fight off any moves to privatise the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.'
An MoD spokesperson said: 'Full commercial operation is just one of a number of options that will be considered.'
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Friday 10 February 2012
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