Armed forces’ cuts could have knock-on affect for 2,500 support
staff, warns Unite
17 January 2012
The latest cuts to the armed forces could threaten up to 2,500
support staff in the future, Unite, the largest union in the
country, warned today (Tuesday 17 January).
Unite fears that the cuts of more than 4,000 frontline jobs
announced today could lead to compulsory redundancies amongst
industrial civil servants – drivers, vehicle fitters, electricians,
plumbers and stores’ staff – in the future
Unite national officer for the Ministry of Defence, Mike
McCartney, said: ”It is clear that the cutbacks to frontline staff
will have a detrimental affect on the industrial civil servants
that provide vital back-up and support to our frontline men and
women.
”We estimate that it could affect up to 2,500 such jobs,
although it is difficult to give a timeline. We also expect to see
an increase in outsourcing and privatisation of such services to
private firms.
”Unite will campaign very hard against any potential job cuts to
the industrial civil servant staff and fight against the
outsourcing of such jobs which, we believe, will lead to a
deterioration of service delivery to the Ministry of Defence, and a
lessening of the pay, and terms and conditions of the
workforce.”
More than 4,000 members of the army, the Royal Navy and RAF are
set to lose their jobs in this second round of job losses.
ENDS
Notes to news editors:
For further information please contact Unite communications
officer, Shaun Noble, on 07768 693940
