May 10, 2017 4.49 pm This story is over 90 months old

Union to ballot RAF Cranwell staff for industrial action in pay dispute

GMB members at RAF Cranwell will be balloted for industrial action unless their employer increases its pay offer, the union has threatened. GMB accuses ISS, which was awarded the contract for facility services at the base, of ‘reducing staffing numbers, attacking the terms and conditions of staff’ and employing new workers on “poverty wages”. Bert Schouwenburg,…

GMB members at RAF Cranwell will be balloted for industrial action unless their employer increases its pay offer, the union has threatened.

GMB accuses ISS, which was awarded the contract for facility services at the base, of ‘reducing staffing numbers, attacking the terms and conditions of staff’ and employing new workers on “poverty wages”.

Bert Schouwenburg, GMB National Officer, said: “Danish multinational ISS turned over nearly £9 billion in 2015 and the CEO ‘earned’ £2.3 million.

“Yet our members looking after RAF personnel at Cranwell will get virtually nothing.

“Unless the company put some money on the table, we shall be left with little alternative but to consider industrial action.

“The money being taken out of the community for the benefit of ISS shareholders should be in the pockets of our hard-working members.

“Profit-seeking private contractors have no place in public service be they from here or overseas.”

A spokesperson for ISS told Lincolnshire Reporter: “We recognise there has been a ballot to seek opinions of our people at RAF Cranwell.

“Further meetings will be held next week when we are confident that a successful resolution can be reached.”