Defence workers protest over cuts

Unions are threatening to strike over the closure of a repair site

Hundreds of defence staff are to stage a rally in central London to protest against job cuts and privatisation.

About 500 workers from around the UK are expected to take part in the rally outside the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

Union leaders say government plans to restructure the industry will put frontline army personnel in danger.

The MoD said 11,000 civilian defence posts would be cut by 2008, but that the focus of the plans was on working more efficiently.

Among those expected to attend Wednesday's demonstration are workers from the Midlands protesting over plans to close the Abro armoured vehicle and engine facilities at Donnington in Shropshire.

Members are travelling to London from across the UK to say enough is enough Mark Serwotka, PCS

They will be joined by workers from RAF Stafford where 500 civilian jobs are expected to be lost.

Staff facing cuts at Defence Aviation Repair Agency (Dara) sites, such as Sealand in Wales, Almondbank in Scotland and Fleetlands in Hampshire, will also travel to London for the event.

Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union, said: "Members are travelling to London from across the UK to say enough is enough and that cuts on the scale planned in the MoD will only harm the support given to the servicemen and women in the frontline."

Privatisation

He said the job losses would also have "a devastating impact" on the communities and local economies affected, for many of which the MoD is the only major employer.

PCS is also protesting at plans they say will allow private defence companies to "swallow up massive contracts worth billions".

However, an MoD spokesman said: "We have a duty to spend taxpayers' money in the most efficient way possible.

"We are disappointed that PCS have taken this day of action as they have been fully consulted on the proposals.

"The MoD wants to continue to work with them through discussion, to deliver a more effective, efficient service."

In December, Defence Secretary John Reid announced the Defence Industrial Strategy under which manufacturers will be expected to focus on hi-tech weapons, but basic items such as ships' hulls could be built abroad.

He admitted that the defence shake-up would be "painful".

Along with the rally in London, unions are also threatening industrial action over the controversial decision to close an aircraft repair site at St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Union officials say they are meeting defence workers across the country over the next few weeks to prepare for a strike ballot.

The MoD job losses are part of Chancellor Gordon Brown's plan to cut more than 100,000 civil servant posts, which he announced in July 2004.