Improved pay deal ends MoD strikes in Stafford

Strikes by skilled military, avionic and electronic equipment maintenance workers in Flintshire and Stafford have ended after an improved pay offer was secured.

Workers employed by Ministry of Defence-owned DE&S Deca in Sealand, Flintshire and Beaconside, Stafford, voted to accept the deal which brings to an end nearly 70 days of strike action that began in October.

A lump-sum payment of £2k will be given to staff, alongside DE&S Deca’s commitment to implementing a Capability Based Pay pilot that acknowledges skills, knowledge and experience when calculating base pay.

Unite the union says that one of Deca’s most important functions is to offer an in-house repair facility to drive down the high prices charged by the private defence industry. Since 2015, DE&S Deca is estimated to have saved the MoD more than £225m, with £37m worth of savings achieved in 2022 alone.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham, said: “This is a hard-fought victory for workers at DE&S Deca. It shows there is power in a union and that Unite will fight tooth and nail for its members in our relentless pursuit of better jobs, pay and conditions.

“I congratulate everyone involved for their hard work and for standing up to their employer in demanding fair pay.”