'Agonizing decisions' by RFA sailors who choose to 'have abortions' deeply concerns Royal Navy First Sea Lord

General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, head of the Royal Navy, said the concerns of women will have his full attention. This is in response to revelations in The News that some female seafarers decided to terminate their pregnancies to retain their career, and felt as if they were being discriminated against.

Current and former sailors spoke to The News and said they’re given three choices after maternity leave: take special unpaid leave and forfeit their salary, go back to maritime assignments and be separated from their loved ones, or quit entirely. This sets up the alarming choice of deciding between their family and career.

Issuing a statement on social media, the First Sea Lord - who also holds the title Chief of Naval Staff - said: “I am fully committed to a Naval Service that can build their careers alongside personal lives. Any suggestion that individuals are placed in a position where they must make such agonising decisions deeply concerns me. This has my full and urgent attention.”

Having an abortion was not a suggestion given to RFA sailors by management staff, but some seafarers decided to take this decision on their own. One experienced seafarer, who asked to remain anonymous, previously said huge emotional toll was placed on herself and her colleagues by their choice of having a family.

She added that she was advised to hire a nanny to provide 24/7 care for her child while she was at sea. Her partner serves in the Royal Navy, and unlike couples serving exclusively in the force, they do not have the same protections about being assigned to deployments at the same time.

The sailor said one woman was told to consider putting her children into temporary foster care. “During my career interview, I was told it was my fault,” she previously said. “I was told ‘mothers are a nuisance and it’s better for the organisation if we have none’, and ‘we should be grateful as having children is a lifestyle choice’.

“I know women have had abortions because of this policy, which is wholly inappropriate. In the past two years, I’ve had more of my friends sobbing and crying down the phone to me than at any time in my life.”

The Nautilus International union, which affiliates itself with Royal Fleet Auxiliary employees and other civilian seafarers, has supported the claims. Director of organising, Martyn Gray, said he has heard “first-hand and second-hand accounts” of personnel deciding to have abortions. He added that they felt like the RFA simply did not support family life, and choose the startling decision after weighing up the options.

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The number of times this decision was made is believed to be at least two. A union source told The Daily Telegraph: “I have personally spoken with three former RFA female crew who have felt pressured to get an abortion to keep their jobs, two of whom did go on to have abortions at great detriment to their mental health and well-being.”

In response to the reporting, a Royal Navy spokesperson said: “The Royal Fleet Auxiliary offers a comprehensive range of support for parental, maternity, paternity, adoption, carers, and shared parental responsibilities. These provisions include enhanced leave entitlements and assistance tailored to their circumstances. We want every seafarer to feel they can build a fulfilling career with the RFA while being fully supported.”

This week is expected to be tumultuous for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, with the strike ballot due to conclude imminently. Members of Nautilus International and the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) are asking member about potential industrial action.

A 4.5 per cent pay offer was rejected last month. Many members believe the promised reforms to the organisation haven’t materialised, and could walk out for better pay and working conditions.