27/11/2014

DSG Pay Dispute Escalates

The Defence Support Group (DSG) is set to be hit by the longest strike in its history as workers at the Ministry of Defence (MoD) facility announced they would be starting a 10 day strike on 8 December in an ongoing dispute over a one per cent pay rise.

In an open letter to the DSG, MoD and potential new owners Babcock Land, the 800 members of Unite warned that the group's proposed sale could be derailed by a "pay system that only serves to demotivate employees and breed discontent".

Pointing out that "while the organisation's accounts have swelled we have seen our pay cut in real terms by 12–18 per cent," the letter goes on to urge the DSG, MoD and Babcock Land to "do the right thing and give the workforce the pay it deserves", and warns that "having decided on our course of action we are determined to see the job through".

The latest round of action at the group which maintains, repairs and overhauls military equipment for the MoD, follows six days of solid strike action in October and November.

The main sites affected by the latest walkout are at Bovington (Dorset), Catterick (North Yorkshire), Colchester, Donnington (Shropshire), Stirling and Warminster (Wiltshire).

(CD)

Related Northern Ireland Recruitment News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

17 February 2015
Police Forces Support Improved Pay Offer
Members of Unite the union, working for police forces in England and Wales have backed an improved pay offer in a ballot, it has been announced. Civilian staff, including 999 call handlers, scene of crime officers, police community support officers and custody officers, accepted the revised pay offer of 2.2%, or £400, whichever is greater, by 92%.
30 January 2015
Union Seals Better Pay Deal For Woolwich Ferry Workers
A strike by Woolwich Ferry workers has been averted after Unite the union secured a better pay deal for the workforce, and persuaded ferry operator Briggs Marine to abandon threats to tear up long-standing agreements.
01 October 2010
Pay Rises Before 2013 'Unrealistic' – IBEC
An influential Irish employers group has said any expectation of a pay rise by employees is "unrealistic". The employers' body IBEC made the claim after publishing the results of its survey showing the majority of companies could still not afford pay increases over the next two years.
18 September 2014
DSG Workers To Ballot For Industrial Action Over Pay Dispute
Workers at the cash-rich Defence Support Group (DSG) are being balloted for industrial action in a dispute over pay, as the group faces being sold off to the private sector next year.
06 October 2014
DSG Workers To Strike Over Pay Dispute
Workers at the Defence Support Group (DSG) have voted for industrial action in a dispute over pay in the run-up to the group being sold off to the private sector next year. More than 800 employees, members of Unite the union, voted by 75 per cent for strike action and by 85 per cent for action short of a strike.