Unions fight to keep defence jobs in Telford

Unite, GMB, PCS and Prospect have called for an inquiry into the Government's proposals to put the contract for the Defence Support Group at the base out to tender to the private sector.

They have claimed any sell-off could put jobs at risk and have promised to fight to protect workers in Telford as part of their joint Stop The DSG Sell Off campaign.

And the campaign has also received the backing of Telford MP David Wright, who said staff at Donnington had carried out 'fantastic' work in recent years.

DSG, which has bases all over the country, deals with the maintenance of armoured and military vehicles and weapons and communications systems for the armed forces.

Brett Davis, senior union representative for Unite, said he believed the Government needed to take a step back and think before they proceed.

He said: "If we get a request from the Army for something, we have to drop everything and start on it and have two months before it has to be on a boat.

"If it becomes a private company, we will have to wait until someone in a boardroom can agree on a contract and price before we start work."

Mr Wright said: "I am keen to work with the unions to protect jobs in Telford. The Government needs to look very closely at this issue because military vehicles provide security for our troops on the front line.

"The team at Donnington has done fantastic work over the last few years and we don't want to lose these skills, or any of the jobs."

By Jon Pritchard