Thousands of Airbus workers in the UK are to go on strike for 10 days in September in a row over pay that threatens to disrupt the production of aircraft wings.
A series of two-day strikes are planned to begin on 2 September and continue throughout the month at the company’s factories in Broughton, north Wales, and Filton, near Bristol, according to Unite.
The union represents more than 3,000 Airbus fitters and engineers, with 8,500 workers employed across the two sites.
Unite said 90% of its members at the company had voted in favour of the industrial action and the strikes would go ahead unless the European planemaker improved its pay offer.
The factories could be forced to pause production during the strike. Wings for the A320, A330 and A350 planes are produced at Broughton and Filton, and any slowdown in production could put pressure on the supply chain.
Unite said the strikes would disrupt production of wings for Airbus’s core commercial and military aircraft and would delay deliveries. Airbus said, however, that it was not concerned about the impact of the industrial action on its year-end deliveries.
Sue Partridge, Airbus UK’s country manager for commercial aircraft, said: “We have made a competitive and fair pay offer in 2025 that builds on the strong foundations of pay increases totalling over 20% in the last three years and a £2,644 bonus payment made in April this year.
“Our priority remains to find a resolution together with the trade union that ensures the long-term competitiveness and success of Airbus in the UK.”
Unite called on Airbus to return to talks as it continued to seek a pay offer that accounts for inflation and cost of living increases.
UK inflation rose again in July to a higher-than-expected 3.8%, according to official figures released on Wednesday, amid price increases for food and travel.
The union added that the offer should reflect “the value of members’ highly specialised skills”, allowing Airbus to deliver aircraft on schedule.
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Sharon Graham, Unite’s general secretary, said: “Airbus is generating billions in profit; workers deserve a fair deal. Our members are simply seeking fairness not favours. Airbus workers have the total support of their union in this dispute.”
The world’s largest planemaker describes Broughton as a “global centre of excellence for wing manufacturing”, and wing structures for Airbus aircraft have been produced at the site for more than 50 years.
Filton is home to the largest concentration of aerospace engineers in northern Europe, according to the company, and leads in wing design and support.
The planemaker aims to increase production this year in response to demand from airlines.
