Staff at Babcock Armour Centre in Bovington are set to take further strike action over three days following a trade dispute regarding a pay settlement.

Staff employed on the TMASS contract at the Armour Centre, which is based next to the Bovington Tank Museum, train army personnel in tank and armoured vehicle driving, maintenance, gunnery, communications and manage the stores.

The strike action commences today. (19)

Members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) took strike action in November for the first time. The strike was well supported with 96 per cent of members attending the picket line on the day. The strike successfully halted training for the day.

Members had been offered 2.4 per cent which was rejected by PCS members.

Following the strike, management improved their offer to include an uplift of 11 per cent on allowances and an extra day’s leave each year that members could sell back to the company - this was again rejected.

Members are angry that their wages have fallen in real terms by more than five per cent whilst Babcock International Group’s pre-tax profits rose from £275 million in 2013 to £498.8 million in 2017.

PCS industrial officer, Paul Bemrose said: “It’s frustrating that Babcock is playing fast and loose with our members living standards. The group is reaping huge profits and constantly boasts to the staff of its success. Success that is founded upon the hard work and dedication of PCS members. All members want is to be no worse off than last year."