MORE than 3,000 workers at aerospace firm Leonardo are set to walk out in a strike over pay – including in Yeovil.

The Unite union said the company has refused to improve its 3.2% pay offer after members’ voted to back industrial action earlier this year.

Workers are set to walk out at Leonardo sites in Yeovil, Luton and Basildon on November 5 and 6, 12 and 13, while strikes will take place in Edinburgh and Newcastle on November 5 and 6, 10 and 18.

Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham, said: “Our members are highly skilled and work on critical defence and aerospace systems yet are being short-changed by a company making billions.

“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 own making and our members will have the full support of Unite in their fight for decent pay.”

Leonardo is a leading manufacturer of defence industry equipment, including helicopters, aircraft, aerospace parts, electronics and cybersecurity.

Headquartered in Italy it is one of the largest defence companies in the world, with customers including the Royal Navy.

In 2024, Leonardo had revenues of nearly 18 billion euros and profits of over 1.5 billion euros.

READ MORE: Leonardo workers in Yeovil could go on strike over pay after union vote

Unite national officer for aerospace, Rhys McCarthy, said: “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.”

Previously, as reported by your Leveller, the firm said it stood by an offer of a 9.2% pay increase for workers over two years and would “continue to engage in open dialogue with Unite to find a constructive path forward”.

A spokesperson added: “Our focus remains on offering a fair and competitive package to our employees and the proposed pay deal 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 regularly benchmark our pay and benefits against industry standards to ensure they are appropriate.

“While we stand by the competitiveness of our current offer, we continue to engage in open dialogue with Unite to find a constructive path forward.”