Nuclear sub staff at Faslane considering strike action over plans for £250m cut to vital safety contracts

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Nuclear naval base staff are considering strike action over cost-saving plans they said will put them at risk. Serco Maritime workers at Faslane, near Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire, are among those being balloted by Prospect union over the measures planned for a new contract between the firm and the Ministry of Defence.

The staff work on support vehicles for Royal Navy nuclear submarines and war ships to help them go in and out of the base safely.

But in renewing their contract with Serco Maritime, the MoD reduced the price forcing the firm to consider reducing the services they offer and potentially cutting staff.Serco is the only bidder for the work allowing the MoD to effectively decide on the price they pay due to a lack of competition.Workers say the measures mean their jobs can’t be done safely and have accused the firm of keeping them in the dark about how their proposals will work in practice.

They said they’ve had no consultation and it would be impossible to offer the services the MoD needs with such a huge reduction in cost.