More than 50 employees serving BAE Systems are striking in a dispute over pay.

Store operatives are taking part in 24 hours of strike action, which started at midnight, after pay talks between GMB and subcontractor Wincanton to close a pay gap between staff of more than £4 per hour ended without a resolution.

The staff organise and distribute trade and safety equipment to workers at the Govan and Scotstoun yards.

Glasgow Times: Gordon Terris, NewsquestGordon Terris, Newsquest (Image: Gordon Terris, Newsquest)

GMB say around three-quarters of Wincanton’s store operatives are currently paid £9.90 an hour while a dozen staff previously transferred from BAE Systems are paid £14.10 an hour.

Dominic Pritchard, GMB Scotland organiser, said: "We asked for a pay rise of £2 per hour to start to bring in equality in the wages but Wincanton have refused to meet that in the worst cost-of-living crisis in over 40 years.

"Unfortunately, our members are on £9.90 per hour and they’re struggling to support families.

"These are not school leavers, they’re mature adults doing a very important and skilled job in these stores which is safety critical handing over material to tradesmen who are building these ships."

Glasgow Times: Gordon Terris, NewsquestGordon Terris, Newsquest (Image: Gordon Terris, Newsquest)

We previously reported the yard in Govan currently has the order for three Type 26 frigates and is hopeful five more will follow.

HMS Glasgow is nearing build completion and is due to leave the yard by the end of the year to be fitted out at Scotstoun.

HMS Cardiff is currently being built in stages and HMS Belfast will be the third Type 26 to be built.

BAE is working to secure the contract from the Ministry of Defence to build another five Type 26 frigates.

Glasgow Times: Gordon Terris, NewsquestGordon Terris, Newsquest (Image: Gordon Terris, Newsquest)

Mr Pritchard added: "We are hoping people in BAE Systems and Wincanton, who are both posting millions upon millions of pounds worth of profits, realise that these guys deserve an uplift to achieve equality over a couple of years.

"This has cost a lot of money today and lost manpower hours with BAE Systems.

"We have been reliably informed that those stores were nearly clogged for two hours this morning.

"That was men standing about doing nothing waiting for material, tools, PPE out of those stores.

"That money could have been better spent settling this dispute."

Glasgow Times: Gordon Terris, NewsquestGordon Terris, Newsquest (Image: Gordon Terris, Newsquest)

A spokesperson from Wincanton said: "We value the vital work our colleagues carry out every day and the offer we have put forward is fair and competitive.

"We remain committed to finding a resolution that satisfies all parties."

Glasgow Times: Gordon Terris, NewsquestGordon Terris, Newsquest (Image: Gordon Terris, Newsquest)

A spokesperson for BAE Systems said: "This is a matter for Wincanton and its workforce.

"We have made temporary arrangements to ensure there is no impact to our activities from the strike action."

Further strike action is planned in on November 2, 3, and 7.

Glasgow Times: Gordon Terris, NewsquestGordon Terris, Newsquest (Image: Gordon Terris, Newsquest)

Glasgow Times: Gordon Terris, NewsquestGordon Terris, Newsquest (Image: Gordon Terris, Newsquest)