Going up!
Leonardo workers win pay rise
Reading time: 3 min
Workers at five sites across the UK will see a significant pay increase after taking strike action in pursuit of a fair deal.
Thousands of workers at defence and aerospace company Leonardo have secured the pay rise in a deal which ends all industrial action at plants, including Yeovil in Somerset which is the UK’s only helicopter factory.
As well as Yeovil staff are based at sites in Edinburgh, Newcastle, Basildon and Luton which manufacture vital defence equipment for the UK armed forces. They have accepted a new offer from the company worth eight per cent over two years.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “There is power in a union and workers at Leonardo should be proud of the increased pay award they have secured.
“Workers stood firm against a company making billions in profits. Our members do vital work in helping keep the UK safe and thoroughly deserve their win.”
Unite members had already taken strike action and had more dates planned across the autumn and winter but, having forced the company to improve its offer and accepted this pay increase, all further planned industrial action is now cancelled.
Unite national aerospace officer Rhys McCarthy added: “This is a positive result for workers in aerospace and should be a warning to other employers in the sector – Unite members know their worth and are willing to take industrial action to achieve their aims. Unite is the winning union for aerospace workers.”
Unite South West Regional Secretary Steve Preddy had visited striking Leonardo workers in the Yeovil helicopter factory and welcomed the pay rise.
Steve said. “This is a great victory for Unite members at Leonardos.
“Secured following their brave and unified decision to pursue a fair and affordable pay increase it shows, once again, the benefits of Unite membership and workplace organisation.
“Well done to the members, workplace reps and regional officer in standing strong and achieving the pay award they hard work and dedication deserves.”
By Keith Hatch
Photo by Unite South West
