SCOTS defence workers are threatening to go into battle in a bitter row over pay.

They are furious that MoD chiefs are only prepared to fund a 1% increase and are demanding eight times more at a time when their top brass have accumulated a cash mountain worth tens of millions of pounds.

More than 800 workers are employed by the Defence Support Group - part of the MoD that assembles, maintains, repairs and overhauls combat vehicles and other land equipment, as well as optronics, small arms and aircraft components.

DSG is responsible for the Field Army's training fleet of vehicles and provides a supply chain of vital spares.

The agency has bases at a series of sites in the UK, including Stirling.

The Westminster Government plans to privatise the jobs by selling DSG, with the workforce demanding a pay rise to boost their pensions.

Union leaders at Unite launched a ballot for industrial action amid growing speculation that most of the workers will back strikes after 85% of them rejected the 1% offer.

Unite national officer Mike McCartney said: "It looks like the DSG will be sold off to the private sector in 2015 and our members want to be able to take with them to their new employer a decent rate of pay which can be consolidated for pension purposes.

"DSG has a cash mountain of £65 million which will go back to the Treasury's coffers once the sale has been completed."

He warned: "Feelings are running high because of the poor 1% pay offer as well as the unknown future they face being sold off to the private sector."

A DSG spokesman said: "As part of the MoD our staff face the same pay restrictions as other departments of government.

"The chancellor announced earlier this year that public sector pay rises would be restricted to 1%. Our hands are tied."

gordon.thomson@eveningtimes.co.uk