Catherwood LibraryILR School

Seeking to rid itself of approximately 5,000 employees the British Ministry of Defence set up a voluntary early-release scheme in March of 2005. The union, Prospect, which represents 16,000 MoD employees, believes the program unlawful and ?cheap.? They contend that since the MoD is trying to cut jobs, they should offer the ?compulsory? rate of severance pay, which is higher. The MoD claims that the cuts are about restructuring, not redundancy, and compulsory severance is therefore not required. The case has been taken to the London High Court, though no ruling has been reached as of today. Should the union win, the ministry will have to alter its plans for cutting employees.