Prospect calls for meeting with new Defence Secretary

Prospect has written to the new Defence Secretary, Wes Streeting MP, asking for a meeting to discuss some of the pressing issues affecting the sector, such as procurement, sexual harassment and job cuts at the Ministry of Defence.

Mike Clancy, Prospect General Secretary, writes that “our members are deeply concerned that at a time of heightened threats to UK defence, the workforce which underpins our defence sector is treated as an afterthought.”

“I want to make it clear that any suggestion of delivering ‘new’ funding through cuts to the existing public sector workforce in defence, without meaningful consultation with trade unions that addresses the significant existing skills gaps, would be disastrous for the sector.

He continues:

“As I am sure you will agree, if the Government is serious about delivering on the ambitions of the Defence Industrial Strategy and the Defence Investment Plan, then there must be investment in the size and the skill of the workforce.”

The letter also raises the need for defence procurement reforms and protecting workers from sexual harassment.

As well as a letter from Prospect’s General Secretary, Wes Streeting was also sent a letter from Prospect’s MOD branch representatives to raise a number of specific risks that they see across the MOD.

“I would be happy to coordinate a meeting between you and our reps to facilitate a discussion of these risks,” adds Mike.

The letter to the Defence Secretary is available to download and read in full from the Prospect Library.