MINISTRY of Defence vehicle repair staff have taken further strike action.

Workers at Defence Support Group (DSG), which has a base in Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, are taking part in a 24-hour strike today (Thursday, October 23).

Staff have rejected a one per cent pay increase, favouring an eight per cent rise.

DSG told The Northern Echo it was making no comment on the action and referred back to its previous statement that, as a Government trading fund owned by the Ministry of Defence, it was restricted to pay offers.

The company repairs, maintains and overhauls various military vehicles, including Land Rovers and heavy duty trucks, which have returned from active service in Afghanistan.

More than 800 of the firm’s 2,400 nationwide workforce have taken part in the walkout, including some of its near 100 staff employed at Catterick.

Mike McCartney, Unite national officer for the Ministry of Defence and Government departments, said: “Members voted overwhelmingly for strike action because of the derisory pay offer and early indications show strong support.

The Government previously revealed plans to sell DSG to cut its defence budget as part of the 2010 Strategic Defence Review, and Mr McCartney said if the deal goes through, workers should be in a position to benefit.

Mr McCartney added: “DSG will probably be sold off to the private sector in 2015 and our members want to be able to take with them to their new employer a decent rate of pay, which can be consolidated for pension purposes.”

DSG has sister sites in Dorset, Colchester, Donnington, Scotland, north Wales and Wiltshire.

A DSG spokesman previously said: “We are still part of the Government and restricted to what we can offer, which the Chancellor has set at one per cent.”