Thousands of Leonardo staff across UK strike over pay dispute.

After failing to agree on a new pay arrangement, a union officer stated that employees had ‘no other choice’.

Thousands of aerospace workers throughout the UK have gone on strike against defence major Leonardo, protesting a salary offer they say is a huge real-terms decrease despite the company’s growing earnings.

Picket lines formed in Edinburgh, with similar scenes reported around Scotland and England.

The industrial action followed the rejection of a 3.6% salary increase, which the Unite union described as “well below” inflation.

Unite pointed out that this offer comes while Leonardo UK continuously reports hundreds of millions of pounds in profit each year.

Workers in Edinburgh gathered at the Crewe Road North site entrances to exhibit placards and red Unite banners. Passing cars honked in favour of them. Strikers also successfully pushed delivery drivers, including a Royal Mail vehicle, to avoid crossing the picket line.

Unite pointed out that this offer comes while Leonardo UK continuously reports hundreds of millions of pounds in profit each year.

Workers in Edinburgh gathered at the Crewe Road North site entrances to exhibit placards and red Unite banners. One striking worker told the PA news agency that many more colleagues were watching the walkout from home, indicating that production at the facility had “stopped.”

Passing cars honked in favour of them. Strikers also successfully pushed delivery drivers, including a Royal Mail vehicle, to avoid crossing the picket line.

One striking worker told the PA news agency that many more colleagues were monitoring the strike from home, indicating that production at the facility had “stopped.”

Carrie Binnie, a Unite regional officer, claimed it was the company’s first walk-out in 35 years.

“Leonardo have offered a below-inflation pay rise for their staff, and this has been rejected twice now,” she informed me. They did improve last week, but it was still far below than inflation, and it was denied for the second time.

“We had really hoped that they would come back to the table, renegotiate, meet our demands, and they’ve failed to do so, hence why we’re out on strike today.” Ms Binnie noted that the Unite union was available to meet with the corporation “at any time” and was eager to present any improved offer to its members.

“I like to think when Unite members take such a drastic step to take industrial action, it does refocus management on why their staff are their biggest asset and why they’re needed most,” according to her.

So, if they were affected by today’s action, they should return to the table and engage with us. She also admitted that strikes are “extremely difficult” for Unite members and that the union had “tried really hard” to avoid them.

“We work really hard to negotiate with employers and get members fair deals, and usually, most employers will reach a negotiating stage, which goes through positively with their members,” according to her.