Strike defence

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

As reported last week in UNITElive, over 800 Unite members started a 24 hour strike at 00.01 today – with the prospect of more industrial action on the cards – unless management gets around the table to negotiate a fair and equable pay settlement.

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

And that’s not all. Tomorrow workers at Donnington and Sealandwill strike for a further 24 hours starting at 00:01 tomorrow (Thursday October 16). Workers at the other sites will be taking further 24 hour strike action later in the month.

“Our members voted overwhelmingly for strike action because of the one per cent derisory pay offer, as well as the unknown future they face being sold off to the private sector,” said Unite national officer Mike McCartney.

“Early indications today show strong support for this strike. Further industrial action, beyond what has already been announced, is on the cards, unless the management gets around the table to negotiate in a constructive and positive fashion.

The workers, who maintain, repair and overhaul military air and land equipment for the Ministry of Defence (MOD), are seeking an eight per cent pay rise for 2014.

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 will probably be sold off to the private sector in 2015 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.

“DSG has cash reserves of £65m, 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,” added Mike.