VOTING has opened on a potential strike at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) in Aldermaston.
The Prospect union is balloting members in a dispute over pay.
It says that AWE, an arms-length body of the Ministry of Defence, has refused to negotiate over a 6% pay increase. The union says this fell below expectations, and AWE refused to explain why it would not enter into negotiations.
Prospect argues that that this could see AWE struggle to maintain the skill levels needed, and the firm already pays for a large number of contractors while seeing staff leave for other companies.
Mike Clancy, general secretary of Prospect, said: “Several years of deteriorating workforce engagement and stagnating real-terms pay has left workers at AWE with no option but to move once again towards industrial action.
“The lack of proper engagement has been typified by management presenting the offer as a done deal, with no rationale given for the number, nor any space for negotiation.
“Staff are struggling with the basic costs of living which is simply unbelievable in the organisation that is building and maintaining our nuclear deterrent.
“This is not a workforce that can bear a high level of churn while safely functioning – the jobs require too high a degree of training.
“If the MoD and AWE don’t think again and make a pay offer that reflects the still rocketing cost of living, there is a real risk that AWE will struggle to recruit and retain the skills that it needs.”
The ballot closes on Friday, September 15.
