Union challenges MoD over job cuts

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The union Prospect, which represents 16,000 defence professionals, has brought the action in a bid to win a declaration that the MoD's early release scheme (ERS) is "unlawful".

It will claim at a hearing in London that the scheme is unlawful "on the grounds that it only seeks to pay cheaper 'flexible' severance payments in making staff redundant".

The union's judicial review application - which it says will have a major impact across the civil service whatever the outcome - will be heard by Mr Justice Wyn Williams.

In a statement Prospect said: "In supporting evidence, the union says that because the purpose of the scheme is to help reduce the number of civilian staff by at least 5,000, the MoD should use the more favourable 'compulsory' severance terms, rather than seeking to make job cuts on the cheap.

"Prospect says the MoD scheme breaches the terms of the civil service management code and the civil service compensation scheme."

The union's national secretary Steve Jary said: "Whichever way the court rules, its decision will have a major impact across the civil service.

"The department blames the union for obstructing rafts of people who are dying to get out of the department with a wad of cash.

"But Prospect is not in the business of allowing jobs to be sold at a discount. We are here to protect employment and, most important, to stop the destruction of the MoD's specialist skills base.".