HUNDREDS of workers fear for the future of their jobs if a controversial sale goes ahead, it has been claimed.
Alyn and Deeside MP Mark Tami has met with workers from the Defence and Support Group (DSG) in Sealand, who say they fear for their future if the Ministry of Defence sells it off and it becomes privatised.
About 350 workers are employed at the former RAF Sealand Road site, providing vital equipment for military personnel. Nationally there are 2,800 members of staff.
A campaign is currently being stepped up against the potential sale.
Carl Richards, Unite branch chairman at the Sealand plant, said: “We want things to stay as they are.
“There is concern among workers about what is going to happen and about jobs.
“The workers here have specialist skills.
“It makes common sense for things to stay as they are. Not only would this be a loss to the local area but it would be the loss of a service that cannot be done privately for the costs we are doing it at.”
DSG offers a specialised service for the maintenance and repair of armed services vehicles and machinery.
Alyn and Deeside MP Mark Tami has met with workers, including Mr Richards, who are concerned about their futures and spoke to him about the Stop the DSG Sale campaign. He said: “I fully support the campaign to ensure DSG remains in public ownership.
“It provides vital support services to our armed forces which could not be effectively provided by the private sector.”
Mr Tami said any closure of the plant would represent a “massive loss to the area”.
James Bevan, national spokesman for Unite union which is involved in fighting the DSG sell-off, said: “The workers are determined in their view they want to keep the site open and keep things going as they are.
“They take great pride in working in the same team as the army. The DSG is profitable and efficient and we want this to stay as it is.”
The potential sale was announced in 2010 as part of a Strategic Defence and Security Review.
A spokesman for the MOD said: “The sale of the Defence Support Group is about sustaining DSG, not cutting jobs. DSG provides a critical service for the MOD, delivering support to the UK military both at home and overseas on deployed operations, and this will continue after its sale.
“DSG’s future footprint will be driven by its customers’ requirements and the need to provide the taxpayer with value for money.”