Should lifeboatmen be paid?
Discussion
But why DON'T they get paid?
Other emergency services do - so why the difference where the coast guard is concerned?
Lets face it part fo our coastline covers one of the busiest shipping routes in the world, and we're an Island so its not as if we don't need them.
What on earth woudl happen if they one day decided "rights that it, enough is enough, i'm going home"
Other emergency services do - so why the difference where the coast guard is concerned?
Lets face it part fo our coastline covers one of the busiest shipping routes in the world, and we're an Island so its not as if we don't need them.
What on earth woudl happen if they one day decided "rights that it, enough is enough, i'm going home"
dudleybloke said:
god bless the lifeboat crews.
i think they do a superb job and deserve rewarding.
if you asked most lifeboat people they would probably want the money put into better equipment.
The RNLI have very large cash reserves. Through public donations they can afford the equipment they need. Maybe the question shouldn't be why don't lifeboatmen get paid but why police/fire/ambulance staff do.i think they do a superb job and deserve rewarding.
if you asked most lifeboat people they would probably want the money put into better equipment.
If the RNLI works why shouldn't the same model be used elsewhere?
Fittster said:
dudleybloke said:
god bless the lifeboat crews.
i think they do a superb job and deserve rewarding.
if you asked most lifeboat people they would probably want the money put into better equipment.
The RNLI have very large cash reserves. Through public donations they can afford the equipment they need. Maybe the question shouldn't be why don't lifeboatmen get paid but why police/fire/ambulance staff do.i think they do a superb job and deserve rewarding.
if you asked most lifeboat people they would probably want the money put into better equipment.
If the RNLI works why shouldn't the same model be used elsewhere?
please can we move this the the SPL forum. It would be very amusing to read the replies there.
Go on, you know it's the right thing to do ....
I think the 
s who call them out for no reason should pay them.
Whilst out yachting the other week, some knobbers decided it would be fun to let off distress flares, then fk off on there jetski's so Weston and Cardiff lifeboat derigyburbles (I am fully aware that is wrong spelling, that is what we call them) to come out and investigate, all kitted up to see what was going on.
Now that pissed me off, also offered me some relief is I had been pressing the "Nav OBD" button on the boats sat nav, which after about 10 times pressing it, trying to navigate back to the mooring, I found out it meant "Navigate to man over board" so I was relieved when they asked for jetskis and flares, and not someone falling overboard
Utter s though on the Jetski's, s like that should be paying them.
My view on it is, whether they get paid or not they do a fking marvellous job and are worth there weight in gold, and they do deserve a round of applause as they are one of the unsung heros of the emergency services
s who call them out for no reason should pay them. Whilst out yachting the other week, some knobbers decided it would be fun to let off distress flares, then f
k off on there jetski's so Weston and Cardiff lifeboat derigyburbles (I am fully aware that is wrong spelling, that is what we call them) to come out and investigate, all kitted up to see what was going on. Now that pissed me off, also offered me some relief is I had been pressing the "Nav OBD" button on the boats sat nav, which after about 10 times pressing it, trying to navigate back to the mooring, I found out it meant "Navigate to man over board" so I was relieved when they asked for jetskis and flares, and not someone falling overboard
Utter s though on the Jetski's, s like that should be paying them.My view on it is, whether they get paid or not they do a f
king marvellous job and are worth there weight in gold, and they do deserve a round of applause as they are one of the unsung heros of the emergency services OK this is pretty simple: If you think they do a very good job - donate lots
If you you think they do a good job - donate wherever you see a donation box
If you you think they do a reasonable job but you will never need them - donate a smaller amount in a donation box.
If you think they do a reasonable job but don't give a crap about people drowning at sea don't donate anything!
(I do agree that any people who need rescuing because they have been complete Darwin Award nominees should pay for their rescue!)
Edited for clarity!
If you you think they do a good job - donate wherever you see a donation box
If you you think they do a reasonable job but you will never need them - donate a smaller amount in a donation box.
If you think they do a reasonable job but don't give a crap about people drowning at sea don't donate anything!
(I do agree that any people who need rescuing because they have been complete Darwin Award nominees should pay for their rescue!)
Edited for clarity!
Edited by Rabbitinthelight on Monday 7th September 01:55
Dan_1981 said:
But why DON'T they get paid?
Other emergency services do - so why the difference where the coast guard is concerned?
Lets face it part fo our coastline covers one of the busiest shipping routes in the world, and we're an Island so its not as if we don't need them.
What on earth woudl happen if they one day decided "rights that it, enough is enough, i'm going home"
Dont get mixed up between CoastGuard and RNLI. HM Coast Guard IS a governemt controlled body with all the regulations that go along with it, and although they are Volunteers, they do get paid for every shout they attend.Other emergency services do - so why the difference where the coast guard is concerned?
Lets face it part fo our coastline covers one of the busiest shipping routes in the world, and we're an Island so its not as if we don't need them.
What on earth woudl happen if they one day decided "rights that it, enough is enough, i'm going home"
RNLI are also volunteers but dont get paid, on one hand, as they are volunteers, you wont get someone joining up for the extra money, but not really wanting to be there. On the other hand, these guys put an awful lot on the line to rescue others who find themselves in danger.
IIRC RNLI is the only 999 Service that are unpaid*, and as they seem to want to stay 'unpaid' and therefore, outwith government bulls
t, it goes to show the calibre of the men and women within the organisation. Very Very Special People. I certainly have no hesitation in dropping money one of their tubs whenever I see one. *( Not 100% sure about Moutain Rescue, although certainly in Scotland alot of Mountain Rescue Cover is provided by the RAF, dont know if they get extra for being part of the team though. )
Edited by tvradict on Monday 7th September 03:27
If it was government funded the government would cut it to the bare minimum. And then lie about it. And spend the saved money on benefits for some worthless cretin.
Look at helicopter cover for rescue.
The new helicopters dont work as well as the older ones and one helicopter cannot be in two places at once. We rely on RAF and Navy helicopters for a lot of rescue but they dont seem to realise that the RAF rescue helicopters role is to rescue downed aircrew. Your son drowning or a fast jet crew in the see? Their job is to get the RAF crew. They are worth more.
If the RAF SAR crews were deployed to Afghanistan say, there isnt the cover available to cover all the coastline of the UK. (Usually isnt enough cover available at quick enough notice anyway as some aircraft are inevitably unavailable.)
Closest British SAR cover for the North coast of Northern Ireland is either RAF Valley in Wales or RNAS Prestwick in Scotland. Which is why the UK relies on Irish airborne SAR. If long range is needed oh its OK as the Americans are at Mildenhall with their Pave-Lows. Which was what the government relied on. But theyre gone now.
That the government has to rely on other countries airforces for our search and rescue cover is scandilous.
So yeah, should RNLI crews get paid? No. Should they maybe get more tax cuts, a yearly bonus, more of a pension? Something to make their lives a bit easier as a thankyou? Maybe.
Look at helicopter cover for rescue.
The new helicopters dont work as well as the older ones and one helicopter cannot be in two places at once. We rely on RAF and Navy helicopters for a lot of rescue but they dont seem to realise that the RAF rescue helicopters role is to rescue downed aircrew. Your son drowning or a fast jet crew in the see? Their job is to get the RAF crew. They are worth more.
If the RAF SAR crews were deployed to Afghanistan say, there isnt the cover available to cover all the coastline of the UK. (Usually isnt enough cover available at quick enough notice anyway as some aircraft are inevitably unavailable.)
Closest British SAR cover for the North coast of Northern Ireland is either RAF Valley in Wales or RNAS Prestwick in Scotland. Which is why the UK relies on Irish airborne SAR. If long range is needed oh its OK as the Americans are at Mildenhall with their Pave-Lows. Which was what the government relied on. But theyre gone now.
That the government has to rely on other countries airforces for our search and rescue cover is scandilous.
So yeah, should RNLI crews get paid? No. Should they maybe get more tax cuts, a yearly bonus, more of a pension? Something to make their lives a bit easier as a thankyou? Maybe.
Mr Dave said:
So yeah, should RNLI crews get paid? No. Should they maybe get more tax cuts, a yearly bonus, more of a pension? Something to make their lives a bit easier as a thankyou? Maybe.
Agreed.I'm pretty sure there is one lifeboat crew in the UK paid, they live next to the lifeboat station in housing provided by the RNLI IIRC. I'm not sure if its a proper PAYE income or if they get a sort of living allowance. I think its the Humber Lifeboat, cant remember the name of the point they are based on but its regularly cut off from the mainland so holding down a full time job and repsonding to shouts would be impossible.
tvradict said:
Mr Dave said:
So yeah, should RNLI crews get paid? No. Should they maybe get more tax cuts, a yearly bonus, more of a pension? Something to make their lives a bit easier as a thankyou? Maybe.
Agreed.I'm pretty sure there is one lifeboat crew in the UK paid, they live next to the lifeboat station in housing provided by the RNLI IIRC. I'm not sure if its a proper PAYE income or if they get a sort of living allowance. I think its the Humber Lifeboat, cant remember the name of the point they are based on but its regularly cut off from the mainland so holding down a full time job and repsonding to shouts would be impossible.
drivin_me_nuts said:
Fittster said:
dudleybloke said:
god bless the lifeboat crews.
i think they do a superb job and deserve rewarding.
if you asked most lifeboat people they would probably want the money put into better equipment.
The RNLI have very large cash reserves. Through public donations they can afford the equipment they need. Maybe the question shouldn't be why don't lifeboatmen get paid but why police/fire/ambulance staff do.i think they do a superb job and deserve rewarding.
if you asked most lifeboat people they would probably want the money put into better equipment.
If the RNLI works why shouldn't the same model be used elsewhere?
please can we move this the the SPL forum. It would be very amusing to read the replies there.
Go on, you know it's the right thing to do ....
Problem with the other services is they are 24/7 demands in localities all the time so that you would not be able to have a main job and meet the demands of resourcing of the 'second' job.
Having volunteered before joining I am not in a minority. A large number of officers have been volunteers first.
The RNLI I think you will find do not want public funding, they would also not be able to justify the expense of having crews 'sitting about' for large parts of the day.
They should get a retention/ call out fee though on top of the wage they earn elsewhere.
I always think whether your paid or not should be the choice of the individuals who carry out the service. They should be asked. It may be though they get other under the table benefits we don't see.
BoRED S2upid said:
Itrs the whole set up charity driven? Volunteers man the lifeboats which are funded through donations?. Or is there funding to keep the boats and stations going?.
Completely run from fundraised income of various descriptions.... Legacies, Regular Giving, One off donations, Trusts and Grants from other grant making organisations.parakitaMol. said:
BoRED S2upid said:
Itrs the whole set up charity driven? Volunteers man the lifeboats which are funded through donations?. Or is there funding to keep the boats and stations going?.
Completely run from fundraised income of various descriptions.... Legacies, Regular Giving, One off donations, Trusts and Grants from other grant making organisations.With regards tot he volunteers themselves then providing there are always enough volunteers then yes voluntary work is very rewarding (I do a bit myself) but if there was ever a time when there wasn't enough volunteers then pay them.
BoRED S2upid said:
parakitaMol. said:
BoRED S2upid said:
Itrs the whole set up charity driven? Volunteers man the lifeboats which are funded through donations?. Or is there funding to keep the boats and stations going?.
Completely run from fundraised income of various descriptions.... Legacies, Regular Giving, One off donations, Trusts and Grants from other grant making organisations.With regards tot he volunteers themselves then providing there are always enough volunteers then yes voluntary work is very rewarding (I do a bit myself) but if there was ever a time when there wasn't enough volunteers then pay them.
It is not guaranteed income though and the applications are lengthy and complex. A professional 'Statutory Fundraiser' would usually be employed to raise income from this particular stream, full-time.
Edited by parakitaMol. on Monday 7th September 09:29
tvradict said:
Dont get mixed up between CoastGuard and RNLI. HM Coast Guard IS a governemt controlled body with all the regulations that go along with it, and although they are Volunteers, they do get paid for every shout they attend.
Almost correct. Coastguard Rescue Teams, the people who drive the blue and yellow cars and 4x4s are volunteers. However, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, of which HM Coastguard is part, has many paid employees including the people who work at the 19 Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres, who crew the Coastguard helicopters and Coastguard boats (not lifeboats) and who do other jobs within the MCA.
IMO, yes they should be paid or rewarded. Simply because they go out when everyone else is coming in.
Having raced yachts for 20 years or so, I have seen some pretty bouncy conditions that are none too comfortable. There are not that many people who have the balls to put out in the sort of conditions that almost literally tear a decent sized boat apart.
Having raced yachts for 20 years or so, I have seen some pretty bouncy conditions that are none too comfortable. There are not that many people who have the balls to put out in the sort of conditions that almost literally tear a decent sized boat apart.
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