Aerospace workers strike for pay

GKN Aerospace workers in Filton, near Bristol, struck from 26 May to 8 June to oppose falling pay. GKN has offered workers a below-inflation increase of 3.3%, up from an initial offer of 3%. The demand from the workers' union, Unite, is for a 5.5% increase - although this is down from an initial 8% pay claim. Unite got a mandate for strike action with 76% turnout, and 97% voting for industrial action. This is the first strike in the Filton area for 40 years.

The workers make less than their counterparts at nearby Rolls Royce and Airbus. The top directors at GKN received bonuses of £208 million, the CEO of Melrose industries (parent company of GKN) received a £45.4mn bonus.

Depending on how pay talks progress, there may be further action. Around 900 out of the 1500 employees have struck. The union density in different departments varies but can be as high as 90%. Membership surged during the ballot and after strike action had been declared. From talking to strikers on the picket lines, the mood is optimistic.

Workers' Liberty encourages disputes to go for ambitious and specific demands and with maximum transparency for the workers involved. Strikes by Unite (as with many unions in the UK) tend to be quite top-down affairs with talks taking place behind closed doors. This dispute follows much the same pattern.

Workers Liberty has been visiting the picket lines, talking to workers, and understanding what they need to win their dispute. Beyond this we have talked to workers about the democracy and demands of their own dispute and opened up discussions about broader political issues that affect them. Get in touch if you would like to join us the next time we visit picket lines.

Get your union branch to send support to the striking workers.

Please send donations to:
Account Name: Unite Southwest Region 1% Fund
Account Number: 60−83−01
Sort code: 20173959
Reference: GKN Dispute