Workers at the Cammell Laird shipyard in Merseyside are celebrating a deal which will see them receive improved pay and conditions after a campaign by the Unite and GMB trade unions.

More than 400 members had been preparing to take industrial action following a 5.5 per cent pay offer from their employer, deemed unacceptable during a cost of living crisis.

After hard fought negotiations, an improved offer of eight per cent on all rates of pay backdated to July 2023, a two per cent increase in employer pension contributions and a new 100 per cent sick pay policy has been overwhelmingly accepted by workers.

Cammell Laird is contracted to build Royal Navy Dreadnought submarines and Type 26 frigates which could have experienced significant delays had the industrial action gone ahead.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is a brilliant victory at a shipyard that is vital to the security of both shipbuilding jobs in the UK and to the defence of the nation.

“Our members should be proud of their hard fought campaign that has seen them win a significant improvement in their pay and conditions and was only made possible by them being prepared to take industrial action.”

Albie McGuigan, GMB Organiser, said:

"Workers at Cammell Laird demonstrated great unity and commitment throughout their recent campaign to improve pay  and conditions. 

"Negotiations were very difficult at times - but their determination eventually delivered this deal."