PDFORRA, the representative association for soldiers, sailors and airmen, has warned of a serious problem amongst personnel in the Naval Service.
The organisation says there are excessive pressures on ships' engineers and mechanics because of shortage of staff. It has asked the Arbitration Branch of the Department of Defence to intervene.
PDFORRA says that engineers and mechanics, known as artificers, should under the terms of their duties, serve two years out of three on seagoing duty, rotating then for a year on shore duties.
However, because of the shortage of personnel there is too much pressure and related stress on sailors who have to serve excessive periods of duty at sea, operating under cramped living and working conditions.
The Vice-President of the Association, Andy Macken, said the present situation could lead to more personnel leaving, worsening the situation in the Navy.
Mr Macken said skilled personnel should be recruited as it would take too long to train unskilled recruits. Existing personnel, he said, were keeping ships operating, but were under a lot of pressure and the present situation could not be sustained.
The organisation says there are excessive pressures on ships' engineers and mechanics because of shortage of staff. It has asked the Arbitration Branch of the Department of Defence to intervene.
PDFORRA says that engineers and mechanics, known as artificers, should under the terms of their duties, serve two years out of three on seagoing duty, rotating then for a year on shore duties.
However, because of the shortage of personnel there is too much pressure and related stress on sailors who have to serve excessive periods of duty at sea, operating under cramped living and working conditions.
The Vice-President of the Association, Andy Macken, said the present situation could lead to more personnel leaving, worsening the situation in the Navy.
Mr Macken said skilled personnel should be recruited as it would take too long to train unskilled recruits. Existing personnel, he said, were keeping ships operating, but were under a lot of pressure and the present situation could not be sustained.
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