Strikes suspended at bases

What would have been the first large-scale strike action for 42 years at Babcock Marine sites at Coulport and Faslane in Scotland was suspended for further talks as Labour Research went to press.

The nuclear naval and armaments company, which maintains the UK’s fleet of Trident nuclear submarines, claimed that, as a result of its contract with the Ministry of Defence (MoD), it was bound contractually to mirror the UK government’s 1% public sector pay cap.

But its offer of 1% plus a non-consolidated £500 lump sum was rejected by the 800-strong workforce who voted overwhelmingly for industrial action by 95% on an 82% turnout.

An award of consolidated, above-inflation rises at company sites at Devonport and Rosyth added to the sense of frustration among the workforce, with Ian Waddell, national officer for the Unite union, pointing to the “pay disparity across nuclear submarine bases operated by the same private sector contractor that can easily pay more”.

Limited strike action combined with action short of a strike had been due to begin on 19 February. But at that point the company asked for talks on a consolidated pay offer (implying a bigger salary increase) and the action was suspended, but with the strike mandate protected.

Unite pointed out that the company continues to deliver steady operating profits despite MoD cuts, fuelling the sense of injustice among a loyal workforce .

www.unitetheunion.org/news/faslane--coulport-strikes-suspended-as-babcock-agrees-to-fresh-pay-talks