Nuclear weapons staff in pay row strike ballot
Union warns workers could ‘cripple’ facility
THE UK’s nuclear submarine base on the Clyde could be “crippled” by industrial action as civilian staff have threatened to down tools in a dispute over pay.
About 70 specialists employed to maintain the Trident weapons systems at Coulport in Argyll will this week be sent ballots from Unite Scotland.
If backed by members, the union could call for an overtime ban at the Royal Naval Armaments Depot – with future strike action not ruled out.
The base, on Loch Long, is the storage and loading facility for the nuclear warheads loaded on to submarines, which are based at nearby Faslane.
If the workers walk out, it could cause havoc for essential maintenance, which is planned in detail up to a year in advance of each submarine leaving port.
The staff involved are employed by three separate private companies – AWE, Babcock Marine and Lockheed Martin UK Strategic Systems.
They form part of the ABL Alliance, a joint venture which won a 15-year contract from the Ministry of Defence in 2013 to maintain the weapons systems at Coulport.
AWE workers are involved mainly in the maintenance side of the weapon system operation.
Lockheed Martin workers are responsible for specialist engineering and Babcock staff provide jetty services. Due to national security reasons, some roles cannot be disclosed.
Unite said the dispute is over the Alliance’s failure to meet the union’s 2021 wage claim despite workers agreeing on several occasions to delay pay talks due to the coronavirus pandemic.
After months of negotiations, a £600 backdated pay uplift to August 1, 2020, was reached and would be acceptable to Unite members but the companies then put forward several unacceptable offers for 2021.
Stevie Deans, regional coordinating officer with Unite, said: “The ABL Alliance employers seem intent on provoking a fight by failing to recognise the exceptional skills and professionalism of our members by making belowinflation pay offers.
“If the employers refuse to move then, following a successful ballot, industrial action could take place from the beginning of October.
“Due to the nature of the work performed, even an overtime ban could cripple the nation’s nuclear deterrent at Coulport. We urge the employers, once more, to work with us to positively resolve this dispute or the fallout will be fully laid at their doors.”
Lockheed Martin said: “With our ABL Alliance partners, we are continuing dialogue and negotiations with Unite and are hopeful a suitable resolution can be reached by all parties.”