Staff members at Leonardo, a major global defense contractor and the operator of the UK’s only helicopter factory located in Somerset, are preparing to strike. Approximately 3,000 members of the Unite union are set to participate in industrial action across five of the company’s sites in November.
Earlier in October, Leonardo proposed a pay increase of 3.2% over a two-year period, which the company characterized as a fair offer. However, Unite members are calling for the company to resume negotiations and provide a more favorable pay proposition.
The planned strikes are scheduled to occur at Leonardo’s facilities in Edinburgh, Newcastle, Yeovil, Luton, and Basildon. The strike dates include November 5-6 and November 12-13 for the Yeovil, Luton, and Basildon sites, while Edinburgh and Newcastle are expected to experience strike action from November 5-6 and November 10-18.
Leonardo is headquartered in Italy and produces a range of defense industry equipment, such as helicopters, aerospace components, electronics, and cybersecurity technology. Unite’s general secretary, Sharon Graham, accused the company of shortchanging its employees and expressed frustration over Leonardo’s refusal to make a more acceptable pay offer, suggesting that the decision to strike reflects growing dissatisfaction among staff.
Leonardo has been contacted for further comment regarding the situation.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy4p8k074yzo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss