AEROSPACE workers at Leonardo in Yeovil are set to go on strike TOMORROW after rejecting the company’s latest pay offer.

Members of the Unite union are demanding the company returns to the negotiating table and makes a further offer – with the firm itself calling on Unite to continue negotiating, though it said the action this week was “inevitable”.

It comes after an initial 3.2% offer was turned down, with a fresh 3.6% offer now also rejected.

Unite said both offers were below the RPI rate of inflation – currently at 4.5% – representing a real-terms pay cut for workers.

READ MORE: Leonardo workers in Yeovil set to go on strike next month
READ MORE: Thousands of Leonardo workers in Yeovil could go on strike over pay

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

“Leonardo continues to try and penny-pinch rather than make a sensible offer workers can accept. Our members have the full support of Unite in their fight for decent pay.”

Strikes will take place at Leonardo in Yeovil on the following dates:
November 12-13
November 25-28

Unite national officer for aerospace, Rhys McCarthy, added: “Leonardo will now see the anger of its workers on the picket line outside its factories. But this is a dispute entirely of its own making. The company needs to come back to the negotiating table with a proper offer our members can accept.”

Previously, Leonardo said it stood by the “competitiveness” of previous offers, but would “continue to engage”.

And after news of tomorrow’s walkout emerged, the company said: “We are obviously disappointed that the revised pay offer negotiated by Senior Unite Representatives and supported by full time Unite officials on behalf of Leonardo members has not been positively received by the membership.

“Strike action is now inevitable for our Leonardo UK Basildon, Edinburgh, Luton, Newcastle and Yeovil sites.

“We have taken all steps possible to minimise disruption to our business and our customers. We would welcome Unite back to the table in a bid to reach a resolution.”