Nuclear weapons workers vote for strike action

Workers that build and maintain the UK's nuclear weapons have voted to strike over a planned restructuring of the organisation.

Prospect said the Atomic Weapons Establishment's (AWE) staff were being "pushed to the brink by the repeated errors" of its leadership, affecting sites including Aldermaston and Burghfield in Berkshire.

The union said in November 500 jobs were at risk, with another 750 posts recruited for. Last month it said potential redundancies had increased to 800.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said it was "disappointed" by the result but was looking for a "constructive resolution".

Prospect said 95% of staff who voted were in favour of action short of a strike, with 81% in favour of strike action.

The union has warned action could cost AWE millions of pounds at a time when the government has said it will invest £15bn in a new nuclear programme.

"This crucial investment risks being derailed if this restructure continues to cause internal chaos," Prospect said.

But it said a "failed reorganisation could have much greater consequences for the future of the organisation".

Prospect also accused AWE of "drip-feeding" information over weeks so full consultation with its scientists and engineers was "impossible".

The union said the nature and timing of the industrial action would be "announced in due course".

General secretary Mike Clancy said: "Our members are some of the most qualified in the country and take huge pride in the job they do on behalf of the nation.

"Systematically excluding them from any meaningful input into the process of reorganisation both fails to take advantage of that wealth of experience and causes justified worry about the very future of the organisation."

He added that the union would be "looking for clear evidence" that its "reasonable asks have been met before making a decision on whether to proceed with industrial action".

An MoD spokesperson said: "We are disappointed by of the result of Prospect's ballot and continue to urge dialogue, meaningful consultation and a constructive resolution between AWE and Prospect on the issues raised.

"AWE continues to act in good faith and at pace to address the concerns raised and remains absolutely committed to meaningful dialogue and working towards outcomes that support its people.

"In the event of industrial action, pre-planned contingency measures will be implemented to maintain defence outputs and the safety and security of AWE's sites."