MoD Donnington workers accept improved pay offer after strike action
Workers at the Defence Support Group in Telford have overwhelmingly accepted a "significantly" improved pay offer, bringing to an end a long-running dispute with the Government.
Staff at the site in Donnington walked out and took to the picket lines for 10 days before Christmas to follow on from six days of solid strike action in October and November last year.
Union bosses had refused to rule out further strike action at the site – but that appears to have now been averted.
The members of Britain's largest union, Unite, have backed the revised pay offer of one per cent plus a £1,250 bonus by 91 per cent in a ballot, Unite announced today.
The pay deal represents a 66 per cent increase on what was on the table before the dispute.
Unite officer Mike McCartney said: "This significantly improved pay deal would not have been possible without the resolve of members who were determined to get a just and fair deal.
"It represents a significant increase on what was originally on offer and shows what can be achieved when workers stand shoulder to shoulder.
"We trust that Babcock, who take over the running of the DSG, will continue to recognise the vital role our members play in supporting our armed forces by working positively with Unite."
The DSG maintains, repairs and overhauls military equipment for the MoD at Donnington and other locations including Bovington in Dorset, Catterick in north Yorkshire, Colchester, Stirling and Warminster in Wiltshire.
