05 October 2006

Workers at the Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO) are taking industrial action over planned job losses.

The Public Commercial and Services Union (PCS) balloted members to support a work-to-rule action (Web news, 16 August) and 73 per cent voted in favour.

The action follows a decision to co-locate staff from the DLO and the Defence Procurement Agency (DPA). The Ministry of Defence expects the move to save £200 million over 25 years, by shifting workers to the Bath/Bristol area, with the loss of 360 jobs.

The PCS has written to General Sir Kevin O'Donoghue, chief of defence logistics at the DLO, to explain the action. Paul Barnsley, the union's national officer, told SM it was the "last thing we wanted to do", but that he hoped negotiations would continue and the MoD consider alternatives proposed by the PCS.

General O'Donoghue was last month appointed to lead the government's new defence procurement organisation - the result of a merger of the DLO and DPA to form Defence Equipment and Support.

He will become chief of defence materiel in April 2007 and is expected to remain in the role until late 2008. He has been in charge at the DLO since January 2005.

SMoct2006