FURTHER strik e action is set to be undertaken by staff at the Automatic Weapons Establishment (AWE) sites in Aldermaston and Burghfield next week.

As previously reported in The Gazette, more than 600 workers took part in the 24- hour walkout on November 14.

However, a breakdown in communication between trade union Unite and AWE meant no agreement over the disputed pension scheme could be reached.

The dispute centres on AWE’s plan to replace the current defined benefit pension scheme with a defined contribution alternative that is financially poorer than the scheme currently available.

However, the dispute has been give n an extra edge by accusations that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) broke pension promises made a quarter of a century ago when the work - force was transferred to the private sector.

Unite regional officer Bob Middleton said: “We know that the continuous overtime ban, work-to-rule and withdrawal of goodwill from November 15 have severely hit the work at AWE and it faces fines from the MoD because of this impact. Further industrial action is on the cards in the run-up to Christmas and the new year, unless the management starts to negotiate in a constructive fashion.”

Currently, AWE scheme members pay 10 per cent of their salary into the scheme and the employer pays 26 per cent.

Under AWE’s new proposals, employees will be able to pay from three to nine per cent; with AWE paying from seve n to 13 per cent.

AWE site director Haydn Clulow said: “AWE’s commitment is to put in place future pension arrangements which are affordable for our staff. We have continued to hold lengthy meetings with the trade unions, and have offered what we believe is a competitive defined contribution scheme, that compares very favourably with similar organisations.”

The next 24-hour walkout by AWE staff will take place from 12.01am on December 6.