UNION members say a company’s attempts to ‘foil’ a walk-out have just made them ‘more determined’ to strike.

Around 200 workers at the state-owned Defence Support Group sites in Bovington and Lulworth are staging four days of industrial action in an ongoing row over pay.

They are also concerned about a sell-off, with three out of four potential buyers being foreign companies.

DSG services armed forces vehicles but Unite union says some wages do not meet living costs, despite workers travelling to war zones to support the army.

Unite claims that DSG told workers they would not be able to take leave on Monday over fears they would join the strike.

Union rep Rob Thompson said: “This was a direct attempt to weaken and break the strike and was underhanded.

“All we want is for this to be resolved. We are not asking for a fortune.

“But some of the workers can’t afford to live. And they are loyal workers who have been out at Camp Bastion supporting the army.

“In real terms, our pay is 22 percent behind where we should be. The army is struggling to find satisfactory cover – it’s putting a strain on it.

“I can only say to management, ‘let’s get back round the table and let’s get this sorted’.

“It’s doing the company or the workforce no good. But we are adamant that we will stay out until we get this resolved.

“It’s the last thing we wanted – with Christmas coming up it means less money in wage packets but they aren’t listening so we have to take action.

“This will go on and on and it will only escalate – it’s not going away.

“DSG, get round the table and sort this out. And then we can get back to what we do best – providing excellent services to the armed forces.”

DSG says putting a stop on leave requests on strike days is standard procedure.

A spokesman said: “We have got a business to run and we don’t know how many people, until the strike actually happens on the day, are going to be out.

“Any leave that had been put in before Unite announced the strike would have been honoured.”