Qinetiq faces strike threat on pay freeze

AS MANY as 2,000 staff at British defence technology firm Qinetiq may go on strike, as workers gear up to vote on walkouts over pay.

Scientist trade union Prospect said yesterday it and three other unions would ballot up to half of the 7,000-strong work-force at Qinetiq – once a division of Britain’s Ministry of Defence that developed the country’s weapons – on potential strike action.

Possible strikes, set to take place next month, could affect upgrade work on MoD Chinook helicopters.

Qinetiq, however, disputed the number of workers likely to be involved in the vote.

A Qinetiq spokesman said recently the company has frozen pay to save cash during the economic downturn.

The group reports results for the year to the end of March on Thursday.