Around 50 workers at the Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s (RNLI) Inshore Lifeboat Centre are to ballot for strike action, the union Unite has confirmed.

The Isle of Wight centre workers are considering striking after the charity “refused to recognise” the union, said Unite.

Staff have been looking for the union to be recognised since last year and in January Unite started a formal legal process through the Central Arbitration Committee for recognition.

“The RNLI has acted disgracefully towards our members,” said Unite’s general secretary Sharon Graham.

“The RNLI must stop ignoring its workers' wishes for recognition and collective bargaining. Our members at the RNLI have Unite's full support in this fight to have their voices heard."

The potential action comes as the charity confirmed last month that the manufacturing and repair centre in East Cowes is to close within the next two years, with this work moved to its base in Poole.

Unite says the charity is “refusing to negotiate redundancy terms for the workforce, who do a highly skilled role supplying and maintaining lifeboats for over half of the 238 stations run by the RNLI across the UK”.

The ballot opens on 22 June and closes on 6 July.

Unite regional officer Jamie Major added: “I am shocked by the RNLI's behaviour during the dispute. This is the first time I have had to drag a charity that is a household name through the legal process kicking and screaming.

"It is highly disappointing that it continues to refuse Unite's bid for recognition, especially at a time of such uncertainty for our members. The RNLI must change tack, otherwise it faces a disruptive dispute backed by the general public."

Last month the RNLI said that the charity has “carefully considered the request from Unite” and so far initial talks with staff at the centre have been using the “existing employee support forum” with a “specific forum” created for impacted workers.

It added that workers at the centre have been able to be accompanied by any union official to individual meetings.

The RNLI has been approached for further comment.

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