Over three thousand Airbus workers will ballot for strike action

From Monday 30 June, over three thousand engineers and aircraft fitters at the aerospace company, Airbus, are balloting for industrial action over a dispute of pay. The ballot will run until 24 July, and if action is taken, strikes could begin as early as September.

Those who are balloting belong to Unite the Union, the UK’s biggest union for the aerospace industry. This follows a series of unacceptable pay offers. However, Unite remains hopeful that Airbus will return to negotiating and reach a mutual agreement.  

Airbus strikes: who and why?   

The highly skilled workers play a critical role in the production of aircraft wings for the hugely successful A320 family, A330, A350 and A400M military transport aircraft – core programmes in Airbus’s global operations.  Should they vote to strike the company’s sites in Broughton (Flintshire) and Filton (near Bristol) will grind to a halt, delaying delivery of aircraft wings bringing aircraft deliveries to a standstill. 

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Airbus has posted billions in profit and continues to report record aircraft orders. Workers are still struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and this unacceptable pay offer is simply not good enough. Airbus needs to get back round the negotiating table with an offer our members can accept.” 

In 2024, Airbus’s commercial aircraft division reported pre-tax profits of over €5 billion and a robust order backlog of nearly 9,000 aircraft. Despite this strong financial performance and a recent commitment to increase shareholder dividends, the company has so far refused to table an acceptable offer to its workforce.

Unite national officer Rhys McCarthy said: “There is no justification for denying the workforce, whose skills and dedication drive Airbus’ success, a pay rise that reflects both the cost-of-living pressures and inflation.

“Workers are balloting for industrial action as a last resort, due to stalled negotiations. Unite remains fully committed to resolving this dispute through negotiation and stands ready to return to talks with Airbus to secure an agreement which is acceptable to both sides.”

Sue Partridge, Airbus UK Country Manager, Commercial Aircraft, said:

“We have made a competitive and fair pay offer in 2025. Our revised one year offer to our non-management employees (3.3% with a further 0.3% in January 2026) is in addition to the £2,644 success bonus payment employees received in April. This builds on the strong foundations of pay increases that total 20% in the last three years.

Our priority continues to be supporting our employees and ensuring the long-term success and stability of Airbus Commercial Aircraft in the UK.  It remains business as usual across our operations”.

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