UK nuclear weapons workers to go on strike at Clyde base in row over pay
EXCLUSIVE: Specialist staff at Coulport will down tools in a row that a union claims could threaten the operational capacity of the UK's nuclear deterrent.
Chris McCall
Deputy Political Editor
9 DEC 2021
9 DEC 2021
Contractors employed to maintain the weapons systems used on Trident submarines will walk out next week (Image: PA)
Contractors employed to maintain the weapons systems on Trident nuclear submarines are set to walk out on strike next week in a row over pay.
Specialist staff at the the Coulport armaments base on Loch Long will down tools for 24 hours on both December 16 and 20 unless a last minute deal with bosses can be reached.
Further days of strike action are scheduled on January 11 and 25 as well as February 8 and 22.
Unite the union has called for the ABL Alliance - which employs the civilian workers - to offer a pay rise of 3.8 per cent in line with inflation.
The high security Coulport base by the Firth of Clyde is the storage facility for nuclear warheads which are loaded on to Royal Navy submarines based at nearby Faslane.
Staff involved are employed by three separate private companies - AWE, Babcock Marine, and Lockheed Martin UK Strategic Systems - which form part of the ABL Alliance, a joint venture which won a 15-year contract from the Ministry of Defence in 2013 to maintain weapons systems on the Clyde.
The union has heavily criticised the ABL Alliance for its “delay tactics” after 90.5% of its members at Coulport previously voted yes in support of strike action.
It has claimed strike action at such a strategically important naval base is unprecedented in recent times.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) insisted the safe management of Coulport "would not be compromised" by any strike action.
Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: “For months now these extremely profitable companies have dragged their feet over giving our members the fair pay award they deserve.
"Unite’s priority is to fight for the jobs, pay and conditions of our members, and these highly skilled workers at Coulport and Faslane naval bases have the union’s full support in this dispute.”
Stevie Deans, Unite regional coordinator, said: “The ABL Alliance employers have completely disrespected, undervalued and underappreciated our members. Unite has continually sought to resolve this pay dispute but the ABL Alliance at every stage of the process have seem determined to force an escalation.
"Our members have been left with no choice but to take strike action in addition to the overtime ban, and we are determined to get the pay rise these workers deserve.”
An MOD spokesman said: “The UK Government is aware of the ongoing pay negotiations between the ABL Alliance and the Unite trade union and we are hopeful that a resolution will be reached by all parties.
“The continued safe operation of HM Naval Base Clyde is of paramount importance and the safe management of the port will not be compromised.”
Contractors employed to maintain the weapons systems on Trident nuclear submarines are set to walk out on strike next week in a row over pay.
Specialist staff at the the Coulport armaments base on Loch Long will down tools for 24 hours on both December 16 and 20 unless a last minute deal with bosses can be reached.
Further days of strike action are scheduled on January 11 and 25 as well as February 8 and 22.
Unite the union has called for the ABL Alliance - which employs the civilian workers - to offer a pay rise of 3.8 per cent in line with inflation.
The high security Coulport base by the Firth of Clyde is the storage facility for nuclear warheads which are loaded on to Royal Navy submarines based at nearby Faslane.
Staff involved are employed by three separate private companies - AWE, Babcock Marine, and Lockheed Martin UK Strategic Systems - which form part of the ABL Alliance, a joint venture which won a 15-year contract from the Ministry of Defence in 2013 to maintain weapons systems on the Clyde.
The union has heavily criticised the ABL Alliance for its “delay tactics” after 90.5% of its members at Coulport previously voted yes in support of strike action.
It has claimed strike action at such a strategically important naval base is unprecedented in recent times.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) insisted the safe management of Coulport "would not be compromised" by any strike action.
Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: “For months now these extremely profitable companies have dragged their feet over giving our members the fair pay award they deserve.
"Unite’s priority is to fight for the jobs, pay and conditions of our members, and these highly skilled workers at Coulport and Faslane naval bases have the union’s full support in this dispute.”
Stevie Deans, Unite regional coordinator, said: “The ABL Alliance employers have completely disrespected, undervalued and underappreciated our members. Unite has continually sought to resolve this pay dispute but the ABL Alliance at every stage of the process have seem determined to force an escalation.
"Our members have been left with no choice but to take strike action in addition to the overtime ban, and we are determined to get the pay rise these workers deserve.”
An MOD spokesman said: “The UK Government is aware of the ongoing pay negotiations between the ABL Alliance and the Unite trade union and we are hopeful that a resolution will be reached by all parties.
“The continued safe operation of HM Naval Base Clyde is of paramount importance and the safe management of the port will not be compromised.”
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