Labour and trade union movement news

Defence workers strike over 'derisory' pay offer

From Unite:

Workers at the cash-rich Defence Support Group (DSG) started a rolling programme of strike action today (Wednesday 15 October) in a dispute over pay in the run-up to the group being sold off to the private sector next year.

More than 800 employees, members of Unite, started a 24-hour strike at 00.01 today - with the prospect of more industrial action on the cards, unless the management gets around the table to negotiate a fair pay settlement.

The main sites are at Bovington (Dorset), Catterick (north Yorkshire) Colchester, Donnington (Shropshire), Sealand (north Wales), Stirling, and Warminster (Wiltshire).

The further action already agreed is:

Workers at Donnington and Sealand will strike for a further 24 hours starting at 00:01 tomorrow (Thursday 16 October)
Staff at Catterick and Stirling will strike action for 24 hours commencing at 00:01 hours on Thursday 23 October
Employees at Bovington, Warminster and Colchester will strike for a further 24 hours from 00:01 hours on Tuesday 28 October

The workers, who maintain, repair and overhaul military air and land equipment for the Ministry of Defence (MOD), are seeking a 8% pay rise for 2014.

Unite national officer for the MOD and government departments, Mike McCartney, said: "Our members voted overwhelmingly for strike action because of the 1% derisory pay offer, as well as the unknown future they face being sold off to the private sector ... DSG has cash reserves of Ł65 million, which will go back to the Treasury once the sale has been completed. The current DSG management can afford to give a substantial pay rise to the workers who have made DSG such a success story."

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