MEMBERS of Unite the union at the Coulport and Faslane naval bases on the Clyde are to hold a ballot for industrial action in an escalating dispute over pay and bargaining rights with employer Babcock Marine.

The industrial action ballot opens on Thursday and closes on February 25.

If support is given from the membership then industrial action including strikes could hit the nuclear naval bases from the middle of March.

There are three groups being balloted, Babcock Industrial staff (which covers roles such as electricians, mechanical fifers, plumbers, joiners) and Babcock Non-Industrial staff (which covers roles such as engineers, supervisors, managers, and administrative staff), as well as ISS Facility Services staff.

The ballot comes in response to Unite's members rejecting the company's pay offer and the refusal to work with Unite on the future design of the bases.