Workers at British defence group BAE Systems in northwest England plan to take part in strikes, beginning from yesterday until at least February 20 in a dispute over pay and conditions, a union representing them said yesterday.
The union, Unite, said it was taking the action after what it said were ‘bad faith negotiations over pay and conditions’.
It said the company had imposed a pay deal of 3.6 per cent in 2025 ‘against their will’, arguing that it was below the rate of inflation and amounted to a real terms pay cut.
More than 1,200 of its members planned to participate in the walkouts, it said.
A BAE spokesperson said the company’s latest offer included enhancements to pay and pensions, describing it as ‘market-leading pay and reward’, while ensuring it also balanced its need to be competitive and affordable for customers.
“We remain committed to a partnership approach with all our trade union groups. Our production lines remain operational and we expect them to remain so during this period,” the spokesperson added.
BAE, which employs around 50,000 people across 50 sites in the UK, said it expected about 200 of its staff to participate in the strike action, while 1,000 more could potentially take industrial action short of a strike without a full stoppage of work, its spokesperson said.
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