Image Credits: Wikipedia Officers serving in the UK’s Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) will stage a 24-hour strike next week as a long-running dispute over pay and working conditions with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) continues. The RFA supports Royal Navy operations in the Middle East, including missions linked to maritime security in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. RFA Lyme Bay has recently sailed to the Gulf carrying autonomous mine-hunting equipment ahead of a possible operation to help keep the Strait of Hormuz open. Members of the Nautilus International union will stop work from 8am on June 9 until 8am on June 10. Alongside the strike, officers will continue action short of a strike that began on May 10 under a work-to-rule campaign. Nautilus said officers have been refusing duties outside their contracts, including extended tours, transfers between vessels and shore roles, and additional assignments at different locations. The union said 95 percent of members voted in favour of industrial action short of a strike, while 88 percent supported strike action. Nautilus General Secretary Sascha Meijer said members had delayed escalating the dispute to support UK defence operations during increased activity in the Gulf region. “Our members working for the RFA have shown real discipline and professionalism in holding back on escalation to support vital UK defence operations, including during heightened activity in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman,” Meijer said. “That patience has been met with continued delay by the employer. Members are now taking action, and this latest escalation reflects their frustrations. Dialogue will continue but members are prepared to escalate further if that dialogue doesn’t deliver.” The union said all safety obligations would continue to be met during the strike. The dispute focuses on pay, leave, allowances and working conditions. Nautilus has previously said RFA officers have faced a real-terms pay cut of around 30 percent since 2010. T