Unite calls demo as Armed Forces Minister lands in Gibraltar

Unite the Union has called for a community-wide demonstration against jobs cuts at the Ministry of Defence, in a protest that coincides with a visit by the UK’s Armed Forces Minister.

Mike Penning, Britain’s Minister of State for the Armed Forces, arrived yesterday for a three–day familiarisation visit, his first since taking up the post last July.

As part of his programme, the minister will visit a number of areas within the Gibraltar command and call on the Governor and the Chief Minister.

The announcement of the demonstration means Mr Penning will also see at first hand the reaction to news of cutbacks at the MoD.

Unite has called on unions, NGOs and the community as a whole to support a peaceful demonstration at 1pm on Thursday at the entrance to the Naval Base.

“The reason for the demonstration is the recently announced job cuts in the Ministry of Defence and the lack of meaningful consultation in the proposed new Operating Model,” Unite said in a statement.

“Please show your support and solidarity to the MOD Workers and their families in a justifiable and important struggle against cuts to the budget, directly affecting terms and conditions and threatening our members’ jobs.”

Today Unite will be handing in its response to the MoD’s consultation document, ahead of a deadline that it had tried to have extended.