Hundreds of employees at BAE Systems sites in Lancashire will walk out in winter over what they have deemed to be an unacceptable pay offer.
The 416 employees, which BAE Systems says makes up less than 3.5% of the workforce at Warton and Samlesbury, are members of the Unite trade union and work in the professional services area of the business.
Unite said that a pay increase offer of 3.6% is below the rate of inflation and therefore represents a real-terms pay cut.
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A press release issued by Unite said that its members were frustrated that BAE Systems shop floor colleagues received an offer of 4.5% but Blog Preston was told this reflected lower rates of pay in that area of the business and that the higher increase was negotiated in exchange for other changes to working practices.
Unite members will strike from 5-25 November and this will likely cause disruption to production at BAE Systems.
BAE Systems said it is disappointed by the action.
Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: “BAE Systems is one of the world’s biggest defence manufacturers and made billions in profit last year. It pays its CEO vast sums and yet sees fit to try and short-change our members for the sake of shareholders.
“This is completely unacceptable and Unite will be backing our members in their dispute until BAE Systems comes to its senses.”
A spokesperson for BAE Systems said: “We believe the Company’s offer, which includes enhancements to pay and pensions and has been accepted by all 18 of the other Unite bargaining groups in our UK business, is fair and ensures that our employees will continue to receive market-leading pay and reward, while balancing our need to be competitive and affordable for our customers.
“The 416 employees choosing to take action make up less than 3.5% of the workforce across our Warton and Samlesbury sites, and this population have received a 25% rise in pay since 2019. We are really disappointed that this small group and Unite are attempting to disrupt the critical work we do for customers; we are determined to continue to deliver despite those efforts.”
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