Workers at luxury automaker Rolls-Royce won a record pay rise, averting the possibility of a strike, unions say.
Around 1,200 workers at the company’s West Sussex factory will receive a 10% pay rise and a one-off bonus of £2,000.
Unite union, which negotiated the deal, said the year-long package was worth up to 17.6% to its members.
Many industries are hit by strikes as workers seek wage increases to keep up with the rising cost of living.
Railway workers began their latest 48-hour strike on Friday, and action is also due over the next week from Royal Mail workers, ambulance drivers and Border Force staff.
Figures this week showed prices rose 10.7% in the year to November, the fastest rate in about 40 years.
- The strikes take place in December
The Unite union said Rolls workers at the Goodwood factory, which builds some of the world’s most expensive luxury cars, have been “repeatedly denied a decent pay rise”.
A consultative union vote had voted 98% in favor of industrial action if demands for inflation-based wage increases were not met.
Unite said the agreement was the largest single payment in the history of the Goodwood plant.
“This is a first class pay deal for the Rolls-Royce workforce,” said Sharon Graham, Unite General Secretary.
“Rolls-Royce Motor Cars are famous and iconic for the craftsmanship and expertise of the workers. For years, workers have been underpaid and undervalued, but that is changing. The union has achieved the best pay deal since the site opened.”
The union added that the agreement has “significantly” closed the gap between workers at Rolls-Royce and its competitor Aston Martin.
Rolls-Royce, which is owned by Germany’s BMW, said it was “delighted” that Unite recommended the arrangement to its members.
“From January 2023, everyone covered by our collective agreement will receive a 10% salary increase.”
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