COASTGUARD staff are to strike for two further days following their first ever walkout last month.
Up to 700 Public and Commercial Service union members working for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency will strike on Friday, April 11, from 7am in a dispute over pay.
It will affect watch assistants at 19 rescue co-ordination centres, including the Thames centre which covers Southend and Canvey. They will walk out again at 7pm on April 23 for a second 24-hour strike.
The union says the planned industrial action is in response to pay levels that have fallen behind those paid to other emergency services and the Government's policy of below inflation cost of living increases.
The first strike on March 6 saw the Thames centre operating a reduced service, but it did not affect emergency calls.
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