MoD Donnington workers down tools in pay row

Around 300 Unite union members at the Ministry of Defence site in Donnington, Telford, staged the brief walkout in support of the union's claim to an eight per cent pay offer.

The workers held the strike after being offered a one per cent pay rise, which they called "insulting".

Other Defence Support Group sites across the country joined in the protest yesterday, in what local unions said was a show of support in their claim of a decent pay offer.

DSG, which makes, repairs and maintains military equipment, is currently a branch of the Ministry of Defence, but could potentially be privatised.

A union representative for Donnington said today: "Loyal workers have worked hard and watched as millions of pounds of profit have been accumulated in the bank but we are offered derisory pay increases every year.

"We are a highly skilled workforce and yet we have seen our pay reduce in real terms by 18 per cent.

"We will probably be disciplined but the management are taking us for a ride and we have had enough."

The union said the dispute will continue until members are given fairer pay and further walk-outs could be staged.

The workers, were showing their solidarity with public sector workers, including their colleagues in the PCS union, who have also been staging strike action against unfair cuts.

In February 2013, 60 to 70 staff at Donnington's base took part in a protest against privatisation during a visit by defence minister and Ludlow MP Philip Dunne.

Mr Dunne had been visiting the base to present campaign medals to DSG staff who have served in Camp Bastion in Afghanistan.

Earlier this week, Telford & Wrekin Councillors agreed to borrow £120 million to convert the site into a logistics hub for the MoD.

If Telford was chosen as the location for a flagship centre for supplying kit to the Armed Forces, it would see1,000 local jobs safeguarded and 700 new roles in the supply chain.

Winning the hub could also mean a boost of £60 million a year to the borough's economy.