Laboratory scientists set to strike

Staff members at the UK's National Physical Laboratory (NPL) are close to industrial action after disputing a pay freeze at the organisation.

According to union Prospect, the laboratory scientists were irked after bosses suggested a salary pause, despite profits rising 34 per cent at parent company Serco.

Negotiations officer at Prospect Bob King said: "Quite frankly, the diminishing commitment shown by Serco to the future of NPL is causing grave concern."

Redundancies at the research facility have already been made following a £4.5 million cut in funding from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Mr King said Serco failed to stop laboratory scientists being laid off, even though workers' input benefits the economy by approximately £2 billion a year.

Previously, he noted personnel do not wish to go on strike, but feel they have no other choice and he urged Serco to "think again about their staff and come up with a sensible response".

The union has issued special ballot papers at NPL, with a result set for May 1st.