Hundreds of defence workers to strike over pay

Hundreds of defence workers, including some based at Stirling, are launching a four-day strike in a dispute over pay.

Members of the Unite union at the Defence Support Group (DSG) will walk out today in protest at an offer of a 1% increase. Picture Michael Gillen.

Members of the Unite union at the Defence Support Group (DSG) will walk out today in protest at an offer of a 1% increase.

The Group, which maintains and repairs military equipment for the Ministry of Defence, is being sold off to the private sector next year.

The main sites affected by the stoppage are at Bovington, Dorset; Catterick, North Yorkshire; Colchester; Donnington, Shropshire; Stirling; and Warminster, Wiltshire.

Unite national officer Mike McCartney said: “With the sale of DSG to the private sector looming, our members want to take a decent rate of pay which can be consolidated for pension purposes to their new employer.

“The 1% offer is a real terms pay cut and for many workers feels like a final act of betrayal. The current DSG management can afford to give a decent pay rise to the workers who have made DSG such a success story in supporting our armed forces.

“Feelings among our members are running high not just because of the insulting pay offer, but because of the uncertain future they face of being sold off to the private sector. It’s time management got back around the table and negotiated a meaningful settlement.”