Scientists and engineers at defence research and technology QinetiQ have voted in favour of taking industrial action over the company's decision to impose a pay freeze for 2009.
A ballot of the union Prospect’s 2,000 members ended with 72% voting in favour of taking part in strike action, while 85% voted in favour of taking an alternative form of industrial action, which is likely to see an end to overtime working and the withdrawal of goodwill.
Prospect' s national secretary David Luxton said the outcome of the ballot demonstrated the strength of feeling among members over the pay freeze.
“We will finalise our plan of action following a meeting of all QinetiQ unions on 8 June. Our overriding focus will be to persuade the company that there needs to be a genuine dialogue on the way forward if we are to avoid disruption to the work of the company in the coming months,” he said.
QinetiQ employs over 7,000 staff in the UK and operates over 40 sites with facilities located at Farnborough in Hampshire, Malvern in Worcestershire and Boscombe Down, Wiltshire.