The union has said that it is unsustainable for MoD to meet its operational resourcing requirements within broad banding and the 1% pay cap, and that Prospect is therefore not able to reach agreement on pay this year.

In the response letter, Prospect recognises that there was genuine dialogue during the pay negotiations, and that progress was made. However, the curbs on MoD members’ salaries are resulting in recruitment and retention issues that are stretching defence-critical activities to breaking point. Prospect members cannot continue to ‘go the extra mile’ to paper over the cracks of MoD’s resourcing crisis.

Prospect has also sent MoD a copy of the union’s manifesto for specialist pay in MoD, which argues that a re-think on pay is required for MoD to counter the increasing disillusionment and risk of staff leaving that is the consequence of ongoing constraints on pay.