Luton strike back on as Leonardo workers reject latest pay offer
Staff at an aerospace firm in Luton will walk out over a dispute with their employer after rejecting its latest pay offer.
Workers based at Leonardo’s Capability Green site will strike tomorrow and Thursday (November 12 and 13).
Members of the Unite union said no to an original pay offer of 3.2 per cent and have now rejected a another offer of 3.6 per cent from the employer.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Leonardo workers are highly skilled and work on critical defence and aerospace systems yet are being short-changed by a company making billions.
"Leonardo continues to try and penny-pinch rather than make a sensible offer workers can accept. Our members have the full support of Unite in their fight for decent pay.”
A Leonardo spokesperson said: “We are obviously disappointed that the revised pay offer negotiated by Senior Unite Representatives and supported by full time Unite officials on behalf of Leonardo members has not been positively received by the membership. Strike action is now inevitable for our Leonardo UK Basildon, Edinburgh, Luton, Newcastle and Yeovil sites. We have taken all steps possible to minimise disruption to our business and our customers. We would welcome Unite back to the table in a bid to reach a resolution.”
The union has warned if the company fails to make an improved offer “then a further escalation in industrial action is likely”.
Unite national officer for aerospace Rhys McCarthy said: “Leonardo will now see the anger of its workers on the picket line outside its factories. But this is a dispute entirely of its own making. The company needs to come back to the negotiating table with a proper offer our members can accept.”