UNION members at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) are now set to take strike action in a long-running dispute regarding pay.
Members of the Prospect union are now set to stage a walk-out for 24-hours from 7am on Wednesday, January 24.
It follows months of industrial action short of a strike by the union, which is seeking to address conditions experienced by employees and problems with staff retention and recruitment.
It also comes after 67% of respondents voted in favour of strike action back in October last year, with 33% voting against.
Overall, 82% voted in favour of action short of a strike, 18% voted against.
AWE is an arms-length body of the Ministry of Defence, and supports and maintains the UK’s nuclear deterrent.
This means it has freedom on pay awards, but the company is not currently negotiating after it presented a 6% pay rise offer last year.
The Prospect union said that this falls “well below” their expectations and that there has been no reason given by AWE for their refusal to negotiate.
It also said last year it had “repeatedly warned” the company that it will experience difficulty recruiting and retaining staff if pay demands are not met, and argues that AWE already pays for a “large number” of contractors and loses a high number of staff to other employers.
Mike Clancy, general secretary of Prospect, said: “Our members at AWE who maintain the UK’s nuclear deterrent have been left with no option but to strike.
“We have done all we can to facilitate negotiation, but the employer continues to neither bring any meaningful change to the table, or indeed explain any of its previous decisions on pay in a satisfactory manner.
“There is already a recruitment and retention crisis at AWE. If nothing is done to improve pay then the company will be unable to compete for skills and risks being unable to fulfil its critical role in safeguarding our national security.
“There is still time to avoid this action if the employer comes back to the table with an improved offer and a genuine commitment to open engagement.”
