Canal & River Trust (CRT) has introduced its discriminatory surcharge against boats without a home mooring. As every day passes, more boaters realise that the cost of their licence is spiralling upwards while boater facilities continue to be closed and itinerant boat dwellers suffer increasingly draconian and unlawful enforcement. As more boaters realise that they are being priced off the water, urgent action is required. CRT claims the surcharge is about money, but the money it will raise is minimal. Rather it is about making our way of life impossible.
CRT claimed in a report to its Trustees that the consultation prior to introducing the surcharge showed boaters overall were in favour of the surcharge. However, multiple Freedom of Information requests have shown that CRT doctored the consultation report, removing the slides that demonstrate that 97% of boats without a home mooring and 60% of all boaters were against the surcharge. The doctored consultation was used to mislead the Trustees into agreeing to implement this discriminatory surcharge. See the links below for the Freedom of Information responses*.
Recent contact with Richard Parry by NBTA members has shown that CRT has no interest in discussing how the surcharge will negatively impact our way of life. He has stated that there will be no reopening of negotiations regarding the surcharge. But CRT once claimed similar regarding the so-called ‘safety zones’ on the River Lea and yet following community pressure, CRT has been forced back to the table.
Against this background a group of boaters is organising a licence strike. Strikers will refuse to pay CRT’s new class of licence fee in protest against the ever increasing additional charges for boaters who do not want, cannot afford, or cannot find a home mooring.
Currently the licence strike group is looking to sign up 500 boaters to go on a full licence strike. They are rapidly approaching that threshold and strike action is imminent. Why do they need to wait until 500 are ready to go on strike before acting? Firstly, there is strength in numbers. Boaters are stronger as a collective in the face of CRT’s enforcement. This number would overwhelm CRT’s enforcement capabilities thereby minimising the risk to you and your home. Secondly, it would deny CRT over half a million pounds (the same amount as the combined salaries of Richard Parry, Chief Executive, and Stuart Mills, Chief Investment Officer). This would begin to exert the pressure required from CRT to reopen discussions. Boaters can sign up to the strike here https://tinyurl.com/licencestrike
The licence strike group is also looking for volunteers to deliver leaflets to boats. If you want to help, please email crtlicencestrike@gmail.com
There is also a licence strike Whatsapp group: https://tinyurl.com/licencestrikechat
The licence strike group has produced a helpsheet on how taking part in a licence strike would affect strikers. See https://licencestrike.wordpress.com/ Here are answers to some of the questions boaters may have:
What is a licence Strike?
A licence strike would involve a substantial number of boaters collectively stopping their licences together in a coordinated action. We are not publishing the specifics of how this would be achieved in order to prevent CRT acting against the proposals.
What are boaters being asked to do?
At present, simply to register interest in a strike by signing up to a mailing list. The licence strike group will be providing more information and a ballot on strike action in due course.
What is the risk to me and my boat?
The manner in which the strike has been organised would lead to minimal risk to your boat. We recognise that our boats are our homes and so would never ask people to act recklessly with their homes. Additionally there are caseworkers, solicitors and barristers on hand to help with individual cases if required.
How likely is this to succeed?
Boaters have never been on a licence strike previously and so this is largely new territory. However, there are many historic precedents of successful rent strikes. Additionally, there are many past examples of boaters resisting CRT/BW in coordinated actions.
What if my licence has already gone up? Should I strike now?
We would strongly advise not to strike alone. We are stronger when we are united. For now, we would encourage you to continue to pay your licence monthly and involve yourself in the campaign.
*Freedom of Information responses and CRT Trustees meeting minutes:
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/information_regarding_intoductio#incoming-2501039
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/surcharge_consultation#outgoing-1677716