Airbus workers threaten to strike over pay row

Scores of workers at one of the Bristol’s largest employers look set to strike over a pay dispute.

Around 3,000 Airbus employees in the city and Wales who are members of the Unite union have voted to take action over an “unacceptably low” pay offer.

Striking at the aviation giant’s Filton site, which designs, tests and manufactures wings for commercial aircraft, could start as soon as March.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This vote makes it abundantly clear that our members are totally dissatisfied with Airbus’ unacceptably low pay offer.

“Airbus needs to acknowledge that and table a sensible offer, one that amply reflects rising living costs, before this dispute escalates further.”

As well as Filton, strike action is also set to take place at Airbus’ factory in Broughton, north Wales.

The multi-billion pound company cut 1,700 jobs in 2020, at a time its boss said it was facing the “gravest crisis in the industry’s history”.

Graham added: “There is no excuse – Airbus can well afford to pay its workers the decent rise they deserve and it should move to do so without delay.”

Unite said 94 per cent of its members at Airbus voted in favour of a strike in a ballot with an 84 per cent turnout.

It said action can be avoided if the company makes a pay offer that meets the workers’ expectations.

Rhys McCarthy, Unite national officer for aerospace, added: “In 2020, Airbus workers accepted a pay freeze and since then have worked extremely hard to get the company back on track as the country emerges from the pandemic.

“Now Airbus needs to step up and ensure they have a fair pay increase to help mitigate rocketing inflation and the rising cost of living.”

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In response, Airbus said while it understands the decision to vote in favour of industrial action has not been taken lightly, it is disappointed by it.

A spokesperson continued: “Airbus in the UK managed to successfully navigate the first waves of the pandemic without the need for any compulsory redundancies at a cost of more than £100m and we made our pay offer in the context of the pandemic’s impact on our business and the wider benefits structure employees receive.

“The company is keen to avoid damaging industrial action so we can focus on building a resilient, competitive and collaborative place to work for years to come.

“The safety of our people and products is paramount and we will now implement plans to ensure the protection of our operations is maintained going forward.”

“We are committed to ongoing dialogue with the trade union to help bring this situation to a successful resolution.”

Main photo: Airbus

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