Pay defence

More than 800 workers at the MoD’s defence support group (DSG) have voted for strike action over a paltry one per cent pay offer – and an uncertain future as their department faces privatisation.

The workers, who maintain, repair and overhaul military air and land equipment for the ministry of defence (MoD) voted by 75 per cent for strike action and by 85 per cent for action short of a strike.

“The ballot results reflect the depth of anger felt by our members because of the derisory pay offer as well as the unknown future they face being sold off to the private sector,” said Mike McCartney, Unite national officer for the MoD.

Yet another public sector strike

This is another in a series of strikes across the public sector over one per cent or less pay offers. NHS staff are striking on Monday October 13 and local authority workers on Tuesday October 14 in a week of action over pay.

This strike is about more than pay though as the department is set to be sold into the private sector in 2015.

“DSG will probably be sold off to the private sector next year and our members want to be able to take with them to their new employer, a decent rate of pay which can be consolidated for pension purposes,” said Mike MacCartney.

The sell-off of the DSG was heralded by the coalition’s 2010 strategic defence review, but the process has been dogged by the issue of third party intellectual property rights.

“DSG has cash reserves of £65m. The current DSG management can afford to give a substantial pay rise to the workers who have made DSG such a success story.” Mr MacCartney added.

The main sites involved are Bovington, Catterick, Colchester, Donnington, Stirling and Warminster.