Press Release

MoD workers take action against poverty wages with a “heavy heart”

6th October 2008

Unite members in Landmarc Support Services, who service firing ranges used by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), are to take industrial action today (Monday 6th October) in a dispute over pay. The overtime ban at all firing ranges will be accompanied by a series of national demonstrations.

Hundreds of workers voted overwhelmingly to reject a below inflation pay offer of three percent with the possibility of additional earnings but “with strings”.

The Landmarc workers provide a variety of services including tracking, plotting, continuous observation of all maritime vessels and maintaining the safety of the MoD firing ranges (see notes) around the UK. The ranges are used by Army servicemen to practice ahead of military deployment.

According to Unite, their members are paid only £14,000 per annum. With many of them struggling to get by on this sum, the company’s offer of three percent with a possible two percent bonus, based on unclear criteria linked to health and safety issues, has been firmly rejected by the workforce. Unite wants the company to recognise that maintaining a safe working environment must be a priority of the company and not down to individual workers to provide in a bid to boost meagre wages.

Jennie Formby, Unite National Secretary, said:
“Our members take this action with a heavy heart as they know that any industrial action, particularly an overtime ban, will cause huge problems for the army in carrying out crucial training for soldiers just about to go off to Afghanistan.

“However, although they have a mandate for full strike action, our members have taken a decision not to use that yet as they know how vital their role is in the training of these troops.

“Up until now working relationship between the workforce and the MoD, and then with subsequent contractors, has been excellent. But since Landmarc won the contract in 2003 conditions for the workforce have deteriorated rapidly. We call on the management to recognise the seriousness of this dispute and to sit down and negotiate.”

Gareth Stait, Unite senior steward for the Castlemartin, Penally and Manorbier Ranges said:
“I’m ex-forces myself and my son is a serving soldier. His troop is just about to go to Iraq, and many of my colleagues are also ex-forces in the same position. The troops we work alongside have told us they support us, they can not believe the poverty wages we have to endure. We’ve tried to negotiate but the management refuse so what other choice have we got?”

Unite members, joined by members of the GMB, have agreed to embark on an overtime ban from the 6th and will also be holding demonstrations outside MOD Main Building and at key sites.