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Fire and rescue workers at Faslane begin overtime ban over safety concerns

FIRE and rescue workers at a nuclear submarine base on the River Clyde have begun an overtime ban over major safety concerns.

Unite said that members are taking action in a dispute over cuts to fire and rescue crew levels and a lack of consultation.

The union said that Ministry of Defence contractor Capita has reduced the specialist fire safety crew by eight positions at Faslane, home to Britain’s nuclear-armed submarines, and the Royal Naval Armaments Depot at Coulport.

Unite reported that its members voted for action short of a strike by 100 per cent, while 78 per cent supported striking. 

The union expressed the belief that the cuts impair the abilities of crews to do their jobs properly.

Unite industrial officer Debbie Hutchings said: “There is a lack of clarity, cohesion and co-ordination about what would exactly happen in several major incident scenarios. We simply haven’t received any credible answers to our questions.”

Capita said that it was disappointed by the outcome of the ballot, adding that a range of contingency safety options have been agreed, along with investment in new equipment.

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