Unite members at Govan and Reading plants backed strike action

Over 300 workers employed by defence manufacturer Thales have secured a new pay deal after the threat of industrial action.
Hundreds of Unite members based at the Thales’ sites in Govan, Glasgow, and the company’s Reading headquarters had emphatically backed strike action to get an enhanced pay offer from the company.
Talks with Thales through the conciliation service Acas following the strike ballot result led to an improved pay offer of 4.3 per cent (above the rate of inflation) and backdated to January.
The workers involved in the ballot include electronics, software and systems engineers along with manufacturing and mechanical technicians.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Thales workers have secured a decent pay deal. The improved deal only came about after the workers backed taking strike action to get what they deserved.”
Thales is the sole supplier of periscopes and optronics masts to the Royal Navy. The company has record levels of orders with the Ministry of Defence recently announcing export deals for Thales' worth £1.1 billion sustaining hundreds of jobs in Glasgow.
 Unite regional coordinator Elaine Dougall said: “This deal will provide a welcome boost to the pay packets of our members.” 
ENDS
Notes to Editors
For media enquiries contact: Andrew Brady on 07810 157922 or andrew.brady@unitetheunion.org 
Unite Scotland is the country’s biggest and most diverse trade union with around 150,000 members.