Union members to escalate strike action over pay dispute

Union members have threatened to cause 'Christmas chaos' at Lancashire's BAE Systems sites.

- by Catherine Musgrove

More than 500 staff at the defence giant's bases in Warton and Samlesbury are escalating their industrial action campaign in the face of what they deem "Scrooge-like" behaviour from their employer.

Members of the Unite are fighting against what they claim is a real-terms pay cut being offered by BAE despite the company making more than £3bn in profits.

Staff began a strike on November 26, which will last until December 17, and this latest announcement will now see around 160 staff who work in safety critical roles take further strike action at least until December 24.