MoD workers' industrial action in Shropshire
Hundreds of Ministry of Defence staff in Shropshire took to the picket line as they began their 10-day-long strike in dispute over pay.
The Unite union claimed that around 400 members protested on the picket in Donnington as they accused the Defence Support Group (DSG) management of fattening up the organisation for a sell off.
Workers have been offered a one per cent pay rise, but the union wants an improved offer before the deal goes ahead.
Mike McCartney, Unite national officer, said that this latest action should leave the DSG management in no doubt, but to resolve a fair pay rise.
He said: "Members are in good spirits and the solid support for the strike with picket lines across the Defence Support Group should leave management in no doubt of the resolve of our members to achieve a fair pay rise.
"Management need to see sense and get back around the negotiating table."
The strike has affected workers at MoD Donnington in Telford, as well as Bovington in Dorset, Catterick in North Yorkshire, Colchester, Stirling and Warminster in Wiltshire.
The union has also written to the MoD and Babcock, the potential new owner of the DSG, warning that the proposed sale of the group could be derailed by a pay system that "demotivates employees".
The latest action by has led to warnings of backlogs in the repair of key military equipment.
