Over 3,000 Leonardo Aerospace Workers in UK Announce November Strike Dates Over Pay Dispute

Industrial Action Confirmed Across UK Sites

Over 3,000 aerospace workers employed by world-leading defence and aerospace manufacturer Leonardo are set to commence strike action across five of its UK factories in November. The industrial dispute, spearheaded by Unite the Union, follows the rejection of a 3.2 percent pay offer, which the union has described as a 'real-terms pay cut' amidst current inflation rates.

The confirmed strike dates will impact Leonardo's facilities in Yeovil, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Luton, and Basildon. Workers at the Edinburgh and Newcastle sites will walk out between November 5 and 6, and again from November 10 to 18. Employees at the Yeovil, Luton, and Basildon factories will strike on November 5 and 6, followed by further action between November 12 and 13.

Union Condemns 'Short-Changing' of Skilled Workforce

Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham strongly criticised Leonardo's stance, stating, 'Our members are highly skilled and work on critical defence and aerospace systems, yet are being short-changed by a company making billions.' She added, 'Leonardo has had ample opportunity to do the right thing and make a decent offer that our members could have accepted. Instead, they have refused and will now see the anger of our members on the picket line outside their factories. This is a dispute entirely of their making and our members will have the full support of Unite in their fight for decent pay.'

Unite regional officer Carrie Binnie echoed these sentiments, asserting, 'This strike is entirely the making of Leonardo and its refusal to improve its pay offer. And it can fix it with the stroke of a pen.' Unite national officer for aerospace, Rhys McCarthy, further highlighted the company's profitability, noting, 'Leonardo make literally billions in profits but are trying to short-change our members whose skills and expertise they rely on. This simply isn't acceptable and they will be making their voices heard next month when taking strike action that will see Leonardo's factories grind to a halt. They need to come back to the negotiating table with an improved offer.'

Leonardo's Position and Business Context

In response to the impending industrial action, a spokesperson for Leonardo stated, 'We are disappointed by the decision to take industrial action, but are working with all areas of our business to mitigate any potential disruption to our customers. The company has made a very fair and competitive offer that has the potential to pay employees 9.2% over the course of the two-year pay deal, representing a package of fixed and variable pay. We remain available to continue constructive discussions with the union to resolve the situation.'

Leonardo, headquartered in Italy, is a significant player in the global defence industry, reporting revenues nearing €18 billion and profits exceeding €1.5 billion in 2024. The company specialises in manufacturing a range of defence equipment, including helicopters, aircraft, aerospace components, electronics, and cybersecurity solutions. Notably, its Yeovil plant is the UK's sole helicopter factory, while the Edinburgh site is responsible for producing advanced radars for military aircraft. This strike action unfolds amidst broader tensions over pay disputes within the UK's aerospace sector.