Striking workers raise safety concern after forklift 'near miss' at Beith plant
GMB Scotland says the incident raises questions about the role of soldiers drafted in to cover during strike action at the munitions complex
A union is raising safety concerns around a munitions complex in Ayrshire where workers are taking strike action, after a forklift truck spun off the road.
GMB Scotland says the incident raises serious questions about the role of soldiers drafted in to cover during the walkouts at the plant in Beith.
Workers striking at a Ministry of Defence munitions complex have voiced concerns for safety after a forklift truck spun off the road.
Union claims forklift almost overturned, while MoD disputes that
The complex is operated by Defence Equipment and Support, part of the Ministry of Defence, and supplies weapons to UK armed forces.
GMB members were told the forklift was being driven by a soldier and almost overturned during the accident on September 13, however that is disputed by the Ministry of Defence.
An MoD spokesperson said:“An issue occurred last week at DM Beith when an unladen forklift truck’s wheel became stuck on wet grass when conducting a turn on a narrow road. No-one was injured and at no point was the vehicle at risk of overturning.”
Chris Kennedy, GMB Scotland organiser, said: “It would appear this may have been a lucky escape but will they be so lucky next time?
“Our members have years of experience transporting sensitive material around the site and would rather be working than picketing.
“We have grave concerns about the kind of duties being undertaken by inexperienced personnel during this dispute and for their safety and the safety of other workers.
“We would urge the Ministry of Defence to stand down the troops and start talking about a resolution.”
Strike action is in response to claims of "two-tier" workplace
Workers at Beith, which has been supplying arms to Ukraine during the conflict, are divided between craft workers, who assemble weapons, and non-craft colleagues, who move the arms around the site and load them for shipment.
The striking non-craft workers have complained of a two-tier workplace where the gap between the salaries of craft workers and non-craft colleagues has tripled in recent years.
The current two-week strike follows four days of action earlier in the summer and the collapse of talks at conciliation service Acas when GMB Scotland accused the Ministry of Defence of acting in bad faith.