THOUSANDS of volunteer coastguards will no longer be paid for emergency callouts following a “cruel” move by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

Coastguard rescue officers carry out rescues and search for missing people around Britain’s coast, including Scotland, Wales and England’s south coast. 

They have always been given hourly remuneration for attending incidents and training exercises, but the MCA is now set to remove the payments.

The move follows a landmark case by the union which saw the Court of Appeal uphold a judgment classifying coastguards as workers. 

GMB’s conference in Blackpool was expected to vote on a motion calling on the union to fight on behalf of hundreds of coastguard members as the Morning Star went to press today.

GMB Scotland delegate Lynsay Mackay was expected to say: “When someone is lost, injured or in danger on our coastline, nobody asks whether the person coming to help is a volunteer or a worker. 

“They ask: is someone coming? 

“For generations, coastguard rescue officers have made sure the answer to that question is yes. 

“If we want a strong, resilient coastguard for the future, we must make sure that those who step forward are supported, not penalised. 

“If you save lives, you deserve respect. If you carry out work, you deserve rights. And when those rights are threatened, GMB stands with you.” 

The MCA has said that it needed to “change how the service operates” after the Court of Appeal judgment in January.

CROs are officially classed as volunteers, but can claim about £11 per hour for responding to callouts or undertaking training exercises.

The motion was heard after the Morning Star went to print.