BAE settles long-running pay dispute with union

BAE Systems workers have settled a pay dispute after months of industrial action.

More than 1,000 union members at the defence giant's sites in Warton and Samlesbury in Lancashire and more than 200 design team members have been striking since BAE lost a High Court bid in November to prevent employees from walking out.

Following further strikes in December, January and February, the Unite trade union said it had secured a pay rise worth 6% overall as well as additional annual leave and a one-off payment. It said the initial offer had been 3.6%.

BAE, Europe's biggest defence contractor, said it was "pleased to have reached an agreement".

Unite said staff had been "furious at the lack of a fair pay award after seeing colleagues in other parts of the BAE business being awarded pay rises" and decided to take industrial action "to make their unhappiness known".

Unite regional officer Ross Quinn said: "This has been a hard-fought victory against an employer that tried every trick in the book to avoid paying our members what they deserved.

"This win shows the power in a union and that when our reps and workers across the aerospace industry and across Lancashire stand together they can win against even the biggest employers."

Staff have been awarded a 4.8% pay rise, backdated to 1 January, and a further 0.75% from 1 October.

All staff will additionally receive an additional day of annual leave while Unite members will get a one-off further day's leave.

All staff are due to receive a one-off £500 and a half-hour earlier finish time each day.

A spokesman for BAE said: "We are pleased to have reached an agreement with this trade union group.

"As the UK's sovereign provider of combat air capability, our people continue to play a crucial role in supporting the UK Armed Forces and its allies."

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