Seeing sense

High skilled defense workers in Wales are celebrating after accepting a substantial pay rise after the employer saw sense and negotiated a two year deal of eight per cent with the union.

Workers at Qioptiq, a high-tech defence optics company in Denbighshire, North Wales had voted to take strike action earlier in June after rejecting the company’s initial offer of just three per cent. 

Following their threat to strike a new deal was offered by the company and accepted by workers that will see them receive a 3.5 per cent increase in year one alongside a 1.5 per cent bonus in December and additional annual leave, followed by a 4.5 per cent increase in year two.

Qioptiq, based in Saint Asaph, produces high-tech optics for the defence industry including avionics, night vision equipment and scopes, and the highly skilled workers at the factory had demanded a fair pay increase after the company posted profits of over £20 million in their last accounts.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is a great win for our members at Qioptiq. It shows the power of the union and what happens when workers are willing to take strike action to further their goals against an employer who’d previously made a poor pay offer.”

Further strikes that had been planned by members of the Unite and GMB unions have now been cancelled.

Unite regional officer Jono Davies added: “Unite is the winning union in defence manufacturing and this is a good deal for our members. They were backed all the way in this dispute by Unite. This is a rallying cry to workers across the industry in Wales – Unite puts money in your pocket.”

Further strikes that had been planned by members of the Unite and GMB unions, which would have seen over 400 workers heading to the picket line in mid June have now been cancelled.

By Keith Hatch