The commandant of three Pembrokeshire military firing ranges predicts minimal disruption after workers who help to run the sites announced an overtime ban.

Members of the union, Unite, who work for Landmarc Support Services, implemented the ban following a dispute over pay.

Workers, who say they earn on average £14,000 a year and are struggling to make ends meet, rejected a below-inflation pay offer of 3%.

Although the industrial action threatens the training of soldiers bound for Afghanistan and Iraq, Lieutenant Colonel Peter Hollins, the new commandant of Castlemartin, Penally and Manorbier Ranges, believes the situation is manageable.

“People at the front end of the delivery of training have looked at the situation and we feel that the impact will be manageable,” he said. “There are elements of people training here, but it is not a busy time of the year.”

Landmarc workers provide a variety of services including tracking, plotting and maintaining the safety of the MoD firing ranges around the UK.

According to Unite, the company’s pay offer had been firmly rejected by the workforce.

Jennie Formby, Unite national secretary, said members would be taking industrial action with a heavy heart.

“They know that any industrial action, particularly an overtime ban, will cause huge problems for the army in carrying out crucial training for soldiers just about to go off to Afghanistan,” she said.

“However, although they have a mandate for full strike action, our members have taken a decision not to use that yet as they know how vital their role is in the training of these troops. Until now working relationships between the workforce and the MoD, and then with subsequent contractors, has been excellent. But since Landmarc won the contract in 2003, conditions for the workforce have deteriorated.

“We call on the management to recognise the seriousness of this dispute and to sit down and negotiate.”

Gareth Stait, Unite senior steward for the Castlemartin, Penally and Manorbier Ranges, had served in the forces and his son is a serving soldier.

“His troop is just about to go to Iraq, and many of my colleagues are also ex-forces in the same position,” said Mr Stait.

“The troops we work alongside have told us they support us, they cannot believe the poverty wages we have to endure. We’ve tried to negotiate but the management refuse so what other choice have we got?”

Unite members, joined by members of the GMB, embark on an overtime ban from Monday and will be holding demonstrations at key sites.