Any change to the way AWE is run must not affect standards, sovereign capability or Continuous At Sea Deterrent

Ministers have announced that they will seek parliament’s approval to move the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), which runs the UK’s nuclear weapons programme, into the direct control of government through the MoD.

 

AWE will be brought into a new arm’s length body which will be up and running in the summer.

Prospect, which represents more than 11,000 specialists and professionals in the UK’s defence sector, many of whom work at AWE, has already engaged with the incumbent management to ensure the protection of jobs, continuity of safety and security, and the preservation of terms.  Local and national union representatives have already been invited onto several transition boards which will manage the move to the new body.

Bob King, Prospect Assistant Secretary, said:

“Prospect members at AWE are dedicated specialists committed to delivering a functioning, safe and secure UK nuclear weapons programme. It is essential that the programme’s safety and security is maintained and that any changes do not affect the high professional standards, sovereign capability or CASD (Continuous At Sea Deterrent).  If direct government control is the best way to achieve that while maintaining the safety, pay and conditions of workers then we support it.

“Prospect has already engaged with the current management and their commitment to involving both national and local union representatives in managing the transition to the new body is welcome.

“Prospect’s main concern in our ongoing discussions we will be seeking assurances that jobs and skills will be maintained and developed and that any changes to conditions will not be to the detriment of staff.”