Over 3000 aerospace workers are set to walk out in strike action over pay at world-leading defence and aerospace manufacturer Leonardo after the company refused to improve its pay offer.

Members of the Unite union are demanding the company returns to the negotiating table and makes an improved pay offer. They were furious after rejecting a pay offer of just 3.2 per cent (a real terms pay cut) from the employer.

Strikes will take place at Leonardo factories on the following dates:

• Yeovil, Luton and Basildon – 5-6 and 12-13 November
• Edinburgh and Newcastle – 5-6, 10-18 November

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 world-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.

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

Unite national officer for aerospace Rhys McCarthy added:
“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.”