Strike action by naval support staff

About 3,000 workers will be affected by the transfer

Naval dockyard workers in Scotland have voted in favour of strike action over plans to move their jobs into the private sector.

Unions representing staff at the Faslane and Coulport yards said a one-day strike would take place on Friday, 12 April.

David Luxton, national secretary for the white-collar union Prospect, said there was "overwhelming support" for strike action.

Jack Dromey will take the fight to parliament

The UK Government has warned that up to 750 jobs could go in the transfer of jobs at the Scottish bases and at Devonport and Portsmouth.

Ministers warned that the majority of redundancies could occur in Scotland but said the changes are necessary to modernise the service and will save taxpayers more than £300m over the next five years.

However, that claim has come under fierce attack from the unions who have accused ministers of betraying the workforce.

Speaking outside Faslane, Jack Dromey, national organiser at the Transport and General Workers' Union, said: "There is a sense of bitter betrayal on the Clyde.

"Mrs Thatcher said she would never privatise naval support. In 1995, Labour in opposition branded privatisation insane and pledged no privatisation.

"In 1999, George Robertson praised the Clyde as a model of cooperation, efficiency and effectiveness, and in 2000 (Defence Secretary) Geoff Hoon promised to honour the no privatisation agreement.

'Worthless promises'

"The secretary of state has now dishonoured his personal promise to the Clyde."

Mr Dromey vowed to "carry the battle to parliament" and accused ministers of dealing in the currency of "worthless promises to workers not to privatise".

Confirmation of strike action came after four meetings at the Coulport and Faslane naval bases, relating to all of the 3,000 workers.

Mass meetings were held on Friday

Ralph Groves, representing the non-industrial trade unions, said these workers would withdraw their goodwill if the government refused to change its mind after Friday's strike.

Mr Groves, a senior national officer for the Public & Commercial Services Union, said: "The non-industrial trade unions are mandated for action short of strikes, including an overtime ban and the withdrawal of goodwill."

The Scottish National Party said the decision to strike demonstrated the strength of feeling among workers.

The party's defence spokesman Colin Campbell said: "It's vital that the MoD operates in the most effective and efficient way and privatising jobs is putting operating costs before services.

"In the past the Tories were criticised for selling off the family silver, the built assets of the nation, but New Labour is even worse, they have taken over Tory privatisation plans and are taking them to extremes."

Mr Campbell vowed the SNP would continue the fight to prevent job losses.

Colin Campbell: "Assets of the nation"

He added: "Staff at Faslane and Coulport have made every effort to be flexible and versatile.

"They have taken on board the skill changes necessary to meet the demands of both nuclear and conventional vessels. Yet now they find their jobs are at risk."

If the issue is not resolved following next Friday's strike, it looks set to feature at the Scottish TUC annual gathering in Perth, which starts on 15 April.

The government has placed "partnering contracts" with Babcock Naval Services on the Clyde, Fleet Support at Portsmouth and Devonport Management at Devonport.

The defence unions plan to hold mass meetings in Portsmouth and Devonport next week and plan to meet Mr Hoon on Wednesday.