The move is scheduled to begin in October 2008. 180 posts are expected to relocate.

A staff survey showed that only 10% of the staff at Caversfield are prepared to move.

Prospect Negotiations Officer Kevin McAlonan said: "Staff at Caversfield are responsible for providing essential support to front line operations, including the supply of personal protection equipment such as body armour and helmets. Their skills and the jobs they do, are vital to the safety of British troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world."

Defence Clothing staff are part of a huge move that will affect over 10,000 MOD employees around Britain.

"There is no military need to move these staff. The decision is driven by a desire for re-organisation for its own sake. Staff at Caversfield are already leaving MOD or moving to other MOD sites in the area to secure their future employment," said McAlonan.

"The decision increases the risk to front line staff. New staff will have to be recruited. To bring them to the level of skill required will take at least two years. But the experience and knowledge of those now doing the job will take even longer to replace. There are now more than 30 vacancies within the highly specialist Defence Clothing team. Skills that will take several years to replace are being lost," said McAlonan.

The original decision to move the Defence Clothing team by 2010 was highly unpopular. But instead of abandoning the move MOD has decided to bring it forward. Prospect local representative, George Clark said: "The latest MOD decision has caused even greater outrage among staff. It will accelerate the loss of key defence people and skills."

Unions met senior MOD management on December 13 immediately after the announcement by defence minister Baroness Taylor and have requested an urgent meeting with the minister. McAlonan said unions did not believe the risks inherent in the decision were fully explained to her. "We will be asking her to abandon the plan," said McAlonan.