Workers at Airbus in the United Kingdom will stage a 10 day strike next month after rejecting the company’s latest pay offer, the Unite union confirmed.
The industrial action, beginning 2 September, will take place over three weeks and involve more than 3,000 aircraft fitters and engineers at Airbus sites in Broughton, Flintshire, and Filton, Bristol. Union members voted overwhelmingly in favor of the strike, with Unite saying the action would disrupt production of wings for both commercial aircraft, including the A320 and A350 families, and the A400M military transport aircraft.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “Airbus is generating billions in profit; workers deserve a fair deal. Our members are simply seeking fairness not favours.” The union described the company’s pay proposal as failing to meet inflation and amounting to a real-terms cut.
Airbus UK stated that it had offered a “competitive and fair” package, highlighting that employees had received pay rises totaling more than 20 percent over the past three years, along with a £2,644 bonus earlier this year. Sue Partridge, Airbus UK country manager, said the revised deal included a 3.3 percent rise plus an additional 0.3 percent in January 2026.
Talks between the two sides remain open, but Unite said it was prepared to move forward with strike plans if no improved offer is made.
The Airbus dispute comes as Boeing faces its own labor unrest. More than 3,200 Boeing workers in Missouri and Illinois have been on strike since 4 August, halting production of components for aircraft including the F-15 and next-generation F-47 fighters.
