AIRBUS has made an improved pay offer to workers at its Broughton plant amid an ongoing dispute.

Around 3,000 Unite the Union members at the site could take strike action over a pay dispute.

Last month, union members rejected a pay offer which amounted to an 8.1 per cent increase over two years.

On Friday (April 1), Airbus representatives met with the Trade Union in London to continue pay discussions.

To do everything possible to avoid "damaging" forthcoming industrial action, the process was escalated by Airbus to include national level representatives. 

The Leader:

This critical meeting was chaired by Andrew Martin, UK national HR director for Airbus and head of HR, Airbus Operations.

The Company Representatives were also supported by Paul McKinlay, head of major component assembly wing and UK national representative. 

Rhys McCarthy, Unite national officer for Aerospace and Shipbuilding and Ian Waddell, general secretary of the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions, supported the regional officers and senior trade union representatives from the Broughton and Filton sites.

Following constructive dialogue, the company made a new and improved 8.6 per cent consolidated two-year offer for the period June 1, 2021 to May 31, 2023.

A full breakdown of the offer is a follows: 

  • 5.1 per cent consolidated increase to basic pay from May 1, 2022
  • 3.5 per cent consolidated increase to basic pay from January 1, 2023 to May 31, 2023
  • A lump sum payment equivalent to 5.1 per cent of basic pay to all employees prorated for the period June 1, 2021 to April 30, 2022 
  • 1 additional day of holiday to be used in 2023
  • 1 additional day of holiday to be used in 2024
  • A firm commitment to begin pay discussions for the anniversary date of June 1, 2023 in January 2023 to help prevent any backdating issues.

The trade union has confirmed they will recommend to their members that they accept this new pay offer at ballot.

Mass meetings are planned by the trade union at both sites on Wednesday, April 6 after which the ballot process will follow. During the ballot, there will be a pause on all planned industrial action. 

The ballot is due to take place between April 7 and 21, after which the outcome will be communicated.

If members were to accept this offer, the lump sum payment and the first step of consolidated increase to basic pay (5.1 per cent increase) will be implemented in the May 2022 payroll.