Workers and community groups protest ‘wage robbery’ and ‘intimidation’ at naval base

Workers and community groups are marching to protest against “wage robbery” and worker “intimidation” at Gosport naval base. Britain’s largest union, Unite, has announced its support for the naval base workers. The local Labour Party also supports the protest as part of its campaign against unfair wage cuts. Unite and Labour are joining workers in a march from Gosport High Street to the office of local Conservative MP Caroline Dinenage.

‘Wage cuts and intimidation’

Low paid staff, including cleaners, mess hands and housekeepers, have been forced to accept new contracts.

These new contracts have imposed a reduction in their working year from 52 to 50 weeks, with no chance to make up the difference. Gosport Labour claims:

When staff raised grievances, they were told that many workers had welcomed the reduction in their salaries as it meant they didn’t have to pay for child care or adult care during the two weeks they would not get paid! Management just didn’t care that that staff won’t have any money to feed their families, pay their rents and other housing costs, heat their homes and pay all the other bills for those two weeks.

Unite also claims that workers have experienced bullying and harassment at the affected sites. The union’s regional official said:

The behaviour of ESS is simply disgraceful, not only is the company robbing staff of their pay by cutting their weeks but it is subjecting them to a campaign of bullying, harassment and intimidation.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has outsourced the contracts to ESS, which is part of the Compass Group, at local Royal Navy bases including Fort Blockhouse, Whale Island, HMS Collingwood and HMS Sultan.

The protest

The campaigners will be delivering a petition opposing the wage underpayments and alleged intimidation of workers to Dinenage. They are seeking a meeting to ask her to raise the issue with defence secretary Gavin Williamson.

Both Unite and Gosport Labour called on people to join them on 23 March:

#Solidarity to all set to take action from 14:00 today – still time to join them >> #Gosport protest march over defence site wage robbery https://t.co/KDYPUduEFP pic.twitter.com/G00sLhWJK9

— Unite the union: join a union (@unitetheunion) March 23, 2018

Caroline Dinenage’s response

Dinenage’s press office told The Canary that she is aware of the protest march and petition. She has agreed to meet with “anyone affected by the contract changes” to see what she can do to assist them. Unite’s press office told the The Canary that Dinenage has not been in touch with Unite in any way.

The Canary asked Compass Group and the defence secretary for a statement or comment. Neither had responded by the time of publication.

Featured image via Wikimedia Commons