DEFENCE firm Babcock Marine has ordered staff not to speak to politicians in a “blanket ban” as a ballot on industrial action begins, it is claimed.
The Unite trade union is taking legal advice after its members employed by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) contractor were told not to “lobby” MPs and MSPs as this may “distort” government competition processes.
The “blanket ban” covers even the Defence Secretary and First Minister, the union said.
The edict comes in the week that Unite will ballot staff at the Babcock Marine-run Coulport and Faslane naval bases over industrial action in a pay-and-bargaining-rights dispute.
A strike could hit the nuclear bases in the middle of next month.
SNP MP Martin Docherty-Hughes and Labour MSP Jackie Baillie, who represent the area, have condemned the “gagging order”, which Unite says “prevents legitimate engagement with the parliamentary process” on matters that are not commercially sensitive.
READ MORE: Babcock Marine workers at Faslane and Coulport could strike after Unite ballot
The MoD’s Future Maritime Support Programme (FMSP) competition process is expected to conclude in April and provide up to £200 million of work for the Clyde bases until March 2026.
The last FMSP was worth £250m over five years but the MoD is seeking a saving of up to 30%. Unite has told Defence Secretary Ben Wallace that splitting national security contracts into smaller work packages “endangers the country’s military power and nuclear response capabilities”.
Stephen Deans of Unite said: “The approach by Babcock Marine is excessive in the extreme.
“It’s vital that workers in a democratic society are able to discuss issues at the bases with politicians.”
Docherty-Hughes said: “Over the years, billions have been squandered on contracts because of a lack of proper scrutiny and accountability.
“It is therefore vital that this gagging order is lifted.”
READ MORE: Tories to push on with £130bn Trident renewal despite pandemic
Baillie called the move “an assault on the democratic rights” of union members, adding: “I encourage Babcock Marine to rethink their position urgently.”
However, Babcock Marine disputes the claims, saying: “There is no ban on Babcock employees engaging with politicians over non-commercially sensitive information.
“We fully recognise the right of all our employees, including those who are members of trades unions, to engage with politicians on matters of interest to them using information which is in the public domain.
“Babcock is currently in a confidential procurement process with the MOD and is not permitted to share commercially sensitive information.”
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