The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) staff will see pay increases that exceed inflation and better leave benefits after maritime labor unions agreed to a new deal with the UK government. This agreement aims to help with recruitment and retention within the civilian-crewed fleet.
Under the new terms, there will be a 4.5% pay raise starting April 1, 2025, followed by a 3.6% increase on April 1, 2026. Additionally, the agreement introduces better leave policies, including extra time off for sea duty, a one-time leave buy-back option, and a £250 bonus.
Minister for Veterans and People, Calvin Bailey, praised the agreement during his visit to Portland Port, where he met crew members of RFA Tidespring and RFA Mounts Bay. Bailey remarked that this package acknowledges the essential role the RFA plays in supporting Royal Navy operations around the globe and helps prepare the fleet for future missions with new Fleet Solid Support Ships.
Bailey stated, “The Royal Fleet Auxiliary is a crucial component of the Royal Navy and plays an important role in ensuring the UK’s national security through their significant work worldwide.”
The RFA is a civilian-operated fleet owned by the Ministry of Defence. It supplies fuel, ammunition, and logistical support to Royal Navy and allied ships, helping them maintain operations internationally.
During his visit, Bailey toured RFA Tidespring, which recently returned from deployment with a Carrier Strike Group to the High North, and RFA Mounts Bay, which is getting ready for upcoming missions.
Both the RMT and Nautilus unions confirmed that their members accepted the deal and expressed their intention to continue collaborating with the RFA on modernization efforts, improving leave entitlements and pay structures.
According to the government, this agreement is part of a larger initiative to enhance recruitment and retention within the defense sector. It is expected to help ensure that the RFA has enough personnel to meet future operational needs, including support for the Royal Navy’s Carrier Strike Groups.
This latest agreement follows a significant deal reached in January 2025, when RFA officers accepted a pay increase above inflation after one of the longest industrial disputes in the service's history. The dispute included the first strike by RFA personnel and over 100 days of industrial action centered on pay and working conditions, with unions claiming real wages had dropped by more than 30% since 2010. This new deal builds on that earlier agreement with additional pay increases for 2025 and 2026, improved leave conditions, and ongoing discussions about broader modernization and workforce reforms.