FIRE and rescue workers at HMNB Clyde are set to begin strike action this week in a dispute over "cuts to crew levels and a lack of consultation".

Capita employees who provide onsite fire cover at both the Faslane and Coulport naval bases have been involved in an overtime ban since September 16, but Unite Scotland says its members are now stepping up their campaign to include discontinuous strike action.

The six-hour strike action will take place tomorrow (October 19) and Thursday (October 21), and on the same days next week.

The Advertiser understands that picket lines will be in place at the Coulport main gate and at the Faslane North gate.

Unite has been involved in an ongoing dispute with Capita, which won the contract in 2020 for fire response services from the Ministry of Defence, over an alleged 15 per cent cut in specialist fire safety crew numbers at the bases.

Debbie Hutchings, Unite industrial officer, said: “Unite’s members are stepping up their industrial action this week at Coulport and Faslane due to the ongoing concerns around safety.

READ MORE: Faslane and Coulport fire and rescue workers begin 'overtime ban' after job cuts

"This dispute is about our members not being given the assurances and guarantees over their health and safety in fire response situations, and the training which has been promised to cover such responses.

“We have been in dialogue with Capita since their decision to press ahead with cutting the fire response services at the bases, but more concerns have been raised throughout this process.

"Unite remains open to dialogue with Capita but our members have simply had enough and feel that their employer has not yet done enough.

"The workers will be taking strike action in the interests of their safety, and the safety of the public.”

A Capita spokesperson said: “We are disappointed by Unite’s further escalation of industrial action regarding MoD-approved changes that have been made to resourcing levels at Faslane and Coulport.

"We have a range of contingency options agreed with Defence Fire and Rescue and the Royal Navy’s Clyde leadership team which will ensure the delivery of fire service operations is maintained. 

“Our recommendations to increase or decrease resourcing levels at any MoD site have to be endorsed by Defence Fire and Rescue’s chief fire officer, and ultimately approved by the site’s leadership team. Any such decision would follow on from a thorough review of fire risks.

"In this case, our proposed changes were also validated through the conduct of four confirmatory exercises and a lengthy process of scrutiny by the base leadership team.

“Capita is working with Defence Fire and Rescue to modernise the MoD’s fire and rescue capability. Our £85 million investment in new firefighting vehicles, digital technology, and enhanced training facilities is improving firefighting capabilities and reducing risk to our firefighters, MoD personnel and critical military assets.”