ROSYTH DOCKYARD workers are expected to take further strike action after Wednesday’s unofficial walkout over a pensions row.

Union leaders predict around 700 Babcock employees could down tools after a ballot is held in the next four to six weeks.

The row began earlier this year when Babcock tried to impose changes to pensions, including a fourfold increase in contributions, increasing the retirement age and reducing pensionable pay.

Union leaders warned that staff would walk out unless the changes were reviewed.

In May, union leaders were hopeful that the company was ready to reach a compromise that would better suit workers. However, negotiations broke down last week and a mass meeting at lunchtime on Wednesday resulted in an unofficial strike.

An indicative ballot taken at the time showed an overwhelming 98% of the workforce rejected Babcock’s pensions offer.

Staff walked out early at 3.30pm. They reluctantly went back to work yesterday morning but the dispute is far from over.

Hugh Scullion, regional political officer of Unite, Amicus section, said the dispute had united everyone from manual workers to white collar staff and he had never before seen such a rejection of a company’s proposal.

He said, “It underlines the feeling of the membership in no uncertain terms. We’ve got staff and manual workers in concert here.

“Now we are proceeding to a legal ballot on industrial action. That ballot will hopefully take place in a short period of time. We can’t predict the result, but we’re hoping the indicative ballot gives us an idea of what the result of the legal ballot will be.

“The indicative ballot has let the company see the strength of feeling among the workforce. We have put forward different proposals to the company but the company has never shifted one iota from their original proposal.”

Mr Scullion said that despite national trade union officers being given the impression the company was ready to reconsider the pensions offer last month, their hopes had been dashed. But he said it was not too late for Babcock to avoid another strike.

“If they came back to us and offered us another meeting, we would be happy to meet them.”

He added, “People obviously felt they had to make a gesture… They are back to work today, but I’d say there is a distinct lack of enthusiasm.”