STAFF at an Army vehicle repair firm will take ten-day strike action over a wage dispute.

Workers at Defence Support Group (DSG), in Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, plan to walk out next week.

The Unite union says staff have been betrayed by management over the rejection of an eight per cent pay increase in favour of a one per cent rise.

However, DSG bosses last night criticised workers’ actions, accusing them of jeopardising its valued industry reputation.

Hundreds of DSG’s 2,400 nationwide workforce are expected to part in the action, including some of its near 100-strong team at Catterick Garrison, where its workshop and vehicle storage site helps maintain and overhaul vehicles, such as Land Rovers and heavy duty trucks, which have been used in Afghanistan and by UK-based units.

Unite’s members across DSG’s UK bases previously downed tools for six days in October and November.

Mike McCartney, Unite national officer for the Ministry of Defence and Government departments, said: “Workers who have made DSG such a success story in supporting our armed forces feel betrayed by the continual erosion of their pay packets.

“It is a cash rich organisation, which can well afford a decent a pay rise for its hard working staff.”

Engineering contractor Babcock has been named preferred bidder to take over DSG next year as the Government plans to strengthen its defence budget.

But Unite said any deal should see staff rewarded, and warned any agreement could be damaged by the strike.

Mr McCartney added: “Feelings are running high, not just because of the insulting pay offer, but because of the uncertain future workers face of being sold off to the private sector.

“Management need to get back around the table to avoid the sell-off being derailed.”

However, a DSG spokesman told The Northern Echo the union’s actions were doing more harm than good.

He also said measures were in place to keep the business going over the strike period.

He added: “The situation hasn’t changed since the last time Unite and its members went out.

“We are a highly regarded business with armed forces customers and this is not doing anything to help that; they are damaging our reputation.

“The company cannot exceed what Chancellor George Osborne has talked about over the one per cent increase for public sector workers.

“It is no different than any other public sector organisation.

“We are taking contingency measures and kept a record last time of the people who went out so we can work around it.”

The strike action is due to start on Monday, October 8, with further DSG sites in Dorset, Colchester, Donnington, Stirling and Warminster, in Wiltshire, affected.