Around 150 skilled workers are taking strike action over a pay dispute with the UK subsidiary of aircraft systems manufacturer Eaton. The six-day strike is set to start on Thursday and will also disrupt manufacturing on August 30 and on September 16, 20, 27, and 30.
Eaton’s factory at Fareham in the south of England makes systems and equipment for multiple commercial and military aircraft, as well as for business jets such as Gulfstream’s G500 and G600 models. In the aerospace sector, the facility specializes in items such as fuel indicators and gauges.
Unite, the union representing the striking workers, said its members have rejected a deal that would see pay increase by 10.5% over three years, starting this year with a 4% raise. It said the highest annual salary for skilled workers in Fareham is £32,500 ($42,800) and that this is less than average UK wages of £35,700.
Eaton insists that its pay offer is competitive with comparable aerospace manufacturing jobs in the UK, taking into account base pay and total compensation. It said the deal amounts to a 12.5% increase and that it looks forward to receiving formal proposals from Unite.
“We recognize employees’ right to take industrial action and have contingencies in place to maintain operations and customer service, and are intent on resolving this as quickly as possible,” a company spokesperson told AIN.