DEFENCE ministers have been urged to resume talks with workers at a munitions plant at Beith in Scotland.

The workers are locked in an equal pay dispute with Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), the Ministry of Defence (MoD) agency responsible for running the DM Beith plant in North Ayrshire.

Acting on behalf of 50 employees at the plant, the GMB union argues that the pay gap between craft and non-craft roles has grown as wide as £18,000 a year after DE&S imposed a new bonus scheme.

Craft workers, who assemble weapons such Tomahawks and Spearfish torpedos, are eligible for a substantial retention bonus, while their non-craft colleagues, who are responsible for shipment, some earning as little as £21,000 a year, go without.

The site was the scene of the first-ever strike at DE&S earlier this month after 93 per cent of the workforce backed strike action.

There has been no movement in negotiations since then, so the workers will begin a two-week walkout on Monday.

West of Scotland Labour MSP Katy Clark gave her support to the strikers and demanded action by the MoD.

She said: “I want to express my full solidarity to the munitions workers at Beith taking strike action.

“I attended the picket line last week and I am disappointed by the lack of progress on the part of DE&S.

“Given the immense importance of the work they are doing, seeking to ensure equipment reaches allies under siege in Ukraine, it is concerning that management has fomented such unnecessary ill will and division among the workforce by creating huge pay disparities.

“Workers have my full support. DE&S need to get around the table and start negotiations so this dispute can be urgently resolved.”

DE&S has been contacted for comment.