Members of Unite, the UK's leading aerospace and defence union, at the factories at Warton and Samlesbury have secured a pay rise worth six per cent overall as well as additional annual leave and a one-off payment.
Staff had been furious at the lack of a fair pay award after seeing colleagues in other parts of the BAE business being awarded pay rises and decided to take industrial action to make their unhappiness known. Despite attempts by BAE in the High Court to try and block a legitimate strike, workers shut down the factories repeatedly in December, January and February.
Unite general sectary Sharon Graham said: "It has taken a courageous stance from our workers on a picket line to win this award. They should be congratulated for standing together and winning a pay rise they truly deserve."
Staff have been awarded a 4.8 per cent award backdated to 1 January and a further 0.75 per cent from 1 October 2026. All staff will receive an additional day of annual leave while Unite members receive a one-off further days leave.  All staff are due to receive a one-off £500 and a half-hour earlier finish time each day.
Unite regional officer Ross Quinn said: "This has been a hard-fought victory against an employer that tried every trick in the book to avoid paying our members what they deserved.
 
“This win shows the power in a union and that when our reps and workers across the aerospace industry and across Lancashire stand together they can win against even the biggest employers."