Defence agency staff due to vote on industrial action over pay dispute

15 February 2024 , 15:43

1063     0

Members of the Prospect union at Defence Equipment & Support will decide in the coming weeks whether to launch industrial action (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

Workers at a defence agency are due to vote on possible industrial action over pay disputes.

Members of the Prospect union at Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) will decide in the coming weeks whether to launch an action campaign. The employer has not met their pay claim and an"unagreed" offer of 3.25% or less.

The union is encouraging members to vote yes to both strike action and action short of a strike. The DE&S agency, based in Bristol, is in charge of managing MoD procurement for the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force, and support programmes for the UK's armed forces.

The General Secretary of Prospect, Mike Clancy, stated: "Our members at DE&S are committed experts dedicated to keeping our country safe in an increasingly dangerous world. Instead of recognising their invaluable work, their employer is trying to impose another significant pay cut, with an offer below that negotiated elsewhere in the public sector and far below their private sector counterparts."

His added: "Industrial action is always a last resort. It is not too late for the employer to come back to the table and make a better offer."

Red Arrow pilot forced to send out emergency alert after bird smashes into jet

Lawrence Matheson