Union members at the Ministry of Defence (MoD) have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action in a row over job cuts and privatisation. Some 95% of members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) voted to endorse a campaign plan which includes the threat of industrial action. The PCS claims that more than 20,000 jobs under threat, from either job cuts or privatisation. The MoD is looking to cut 14,000 civilian posts across the country in areas including aviation repair, army repair, defence logistics and the defence supply chain. Massive privatisation of key areas of defence worth billions of pounds is also planned, including defence training and IT, the union said. Whilst the indicative ballot won’t commit staff to industrial action, it is being viewed as a significant step by a workforce that has taken very little strike action in recent years. Any industrial action would be subject to a further ballot. Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary, said: “This strong vote in favour of the union’s campaign sends a clear signal to the MoD that dedicated staff are no longer prepared to see Britain’s defence outsourced to privateers and cut to the bone.” Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday www.personneltoday.com/35277.article
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