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More than 1,000 union members are being balloted for a walkout at the secretive site in Wiltshire. While the pay rise reflected the offer elsewhere in the Ministry of Defence, the Prospect union argued staff is paid “significantly less” than other MOD workers so a two percent rise did nothing to close the gap.
The Prospect union said chemical and biological weapons experts had been “taken for granted for too long” and a two percent rise had now been “imposed” by the employer.
Deputy general secretary Garry Graham said: “Prospect members at DSTL play a vital role in maintaining national security.”
“Morale is at an all-time low and if something doesn’t change they will start to look at opportunities elsewhere.”
“This is not expertise that can easily be replaced – losing it could constitute a threat to the future security of our nation,” said the official.
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Shadow defence minister Chris Evans speaking of the importance of the site said: “Staff at DSTL does highly skilled work that is vital to our national security.
“The government and DSTL need to recognise this vital work and reach a settlement that reflects the service they give keeping this country safe.”
The ballot asks for union members’ views on strike action, as well as on the alternative of industrial action short of a strike.
It is due to last for around a fortnight.
An MOD spokesperson said: “We are aware of the balloting on industrial action taking place at Dstl among members of the trade union Prospect.”
“Our Dstl employees are highly skilled and carry out specialist work critical to national security.”
“We value all our staff and work hard to ensure they receive salaries and benefits befitting of their contribution,” ended the statement.
Porton Down is close to Salisbury where Russian operatives using Novichok nerve agents allegedly targeted Sergei Skripal, himself, a former Russian intelligence chief.
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Exposure to the lethal mixture killed Dawn Sturgess after her partner offered her a bottle of perfume allegedly containing the substance.
Scientists at Porton Down were involved in the investigation and security around the scene following the incident.
Speaking of his horror at what had happened, a senior scientist at the facility said his “blood ran cold” at the thought.
Professor Tim Atkins was on call on March 4, 2018, when police contacted him to say they were dealing with a chemical weapon incident.
The expert said: “While I suspected a chemical had been involved – and clearly a toxic one – I don’t think I ever predicted that it would be something so hazardous.”
“My mind turned to how am I going to explain to the police what’s being used and what the likely consequences of such a hazardous material being released in a city are likely to be?”
He added: “The scale of the clean-up was enormous.”
Current financial benefits for the MOD were considered by the current Defence Secretary.
Ben Wallace has said pay rises for armed forces personnel will be “paused” for 2021/22 unless they earn less than £24,000.
Four in ten personnel do not think their pay and benefits are fair for the work they do.
Speaking in March this year, Mr Wallace said: “Following the Chancellor’s announcement of the public sector pay pause, the MOD will not be seeking recommendations from the AFPRB on pay uplifts for the Armed Forces in this Pay Round.”
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