The trade unionists were protesting the decision by the government, announced March 25, that it will cut 750 job cuts at bases across the United Kingdom and contract out 3,000 more job to private companies. The bulk of the jobs cuts are at the Clyde base. Others affected are Portsmouth and Devonport in Plymouth, both on the south coast of England. The Clyde base houses Britain’s fleet of nuclear missile submarines and has a civilian workforce of nearly 3,000, some 1,735 of which are slated to be contracted out. Workers at the Portsmouth and Devonport bases have also decided to hold a strike ballot.

"I can’t remember a similar action," said one worker who stopped to talk to Militant reporters with his wife, a chef at Faslane. He said he could not give his name as he is subject to the Official Secrets Act. "All the industrial unions walked out at 10:30 a.m. in our support, and they’re having a ballot on industrial action soon. The march had a great reception," he said. "We’re trying to get the MoD to change its mind. This is just about cutting costs."

Another worker said union members plan to begin a work-to-rule campaign next week. "The main issue is that we don’t want any compulsory redundancies," she said. "We’re also worried it will have an effect on wages and pensions."

Jody Friels, an administration worker, said, "It’s disgusting how people are being treated.... Whole families don’t know if they are going to have a job or not."

The unionists have good reason for their concerns. Babcock Naval Services, the company taking over the contracts at the Clyde bases, has been running Rosyth dockyard in Fife for nearly 15 years. The company cut 233 jobs there in 1999 and 360 last year following the loss of contracts.

The strike and march follow a campaign by the unions that included mass meetings and protests in December at Devonport and in Portsmouth the following month. In February a delegation of employees from all four bases traveled to London to hand in a petition against the expected privatization. Workers at Portsmouth and on the Clyde took part in hour-long walkouts in early March to raise awareness of their problem.

The government called the announcement an essential modernizing move. "We have a smaller fleet than we used to have--with lesser requirements for maintenance," said a Minister of Defence spokeswoman. Armed Forces minister Adam Ingram said the changes would save more than £300 million [£1=US$1.46] over the next five years, which would be used in the "front line" of defense.

The day after the action, union leaders held talks with Defence officials.  
 
 
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