MINISTRY of Defence vehicle repair workers hailing a pay rise after days of strike action have received no more than what they were ever offered, company bosses have said.

Staff at Defence Support Group (DSG), which has a base in Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, have accepted a one per cent wage increase.

The deal will be accompanied by a £1,250 bonus, which union Unite has called a significant improvement for workers, who look after Land Rovers and heavy duty trucks used in Afghanistan and by UK-based units.

However, the union had previously demanded an eight per cent rise, claiming staff felt betrayed by the one per cent proposition, and DSG bosses, who always insisted increases were limited by the Government’s public sector pay stance, said the final agreement had been on the table throughout.

The wrangle has ran since last year, when hundreds of DSG’s 2,400-strong UK workforce, including a number of its near 100-strong Catterick team, downed tools for 16 days in protest.

The situation then intensified when the Government agreed to offload DSG for £140m to engineering company Babcock International, which Unite said should be used to reward staff.

But, despite the union’s triumphant claims, a DSG spokesman told The Northern Echo nothing had changed over wages.

He said: “We’re glad this situation is over, but the offer is still the one per cent.

“What we have done is looked at the performance this year and pay a one-off bonus, which they were always going to get.

“We were on track to give £750, with the extra £500 recognising the work our staff have taken on, particularly during this year as we move towards the sale.”

Reacting to workers’ acceptance of the offer, Mike McCartney, Unite national officer, said the increase was deserved, adding he hoped Babcock would continue to reward staff.

He said: “This significantly improved pay deal would not have been possible without the resolve of members who were determined to get a just and fair deal.

“We trust Babcock will continue to recognise the vital role our members play in supporting our armed forces by working positively with us.”

The Government’s ten-year contract with Babcock is due to start on April 1, and will see it continue DSG’s work on maintaining, repairing and storing military vehicles, while looking to cut defence budget costs.

Philip Dunne, Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, previously said the sale would considerably lower spending.

He added: “As well as the £140m upfront, the Army will also benefit from considerable savings over the next ten years.

“Signing this deal will put DSG on a sustainable long-term footing and transform the equipment maintenance and repair support the Army relies on.

“It also represents outstanding value for the taxpayer.”