Rolls-Royce union members set up fund to support striking workers
Rolls-Royce workers have voted in favour of setting up an industrial action fund, to build a “war chest” in preparation for future strikes.
Workers have agreed to pay an extra £1 a month to Unite the union to build the fund.
The union, which represents around 12,000 Rolls-Royce workers in Derby, Bristol, Hucknall, Barnoldswick, Ansty, Inchinnan, East Kilbride, Sunderland and Birmingham believes the fund could grow by £150,000 a year.
It comes as Unite warns of industrial action against the civil aerospace firm over “continued failure to offer guarantees over compulsory redundancies”.
Rolls-Royce is planning to cut around 2,600 jobs from its aerospace division, which is expected to result in redundancies from next month.
Unite national officer Ian Waddell said: “Rolls-Royce should be in no doubt that our members will not tolerate compulsory redundancies in the UK, whether through workload reductions, management reviews, outsourcing or offshoring.
“The fund will be used to support members at specific sites involved in industrial action to oppose these sorts of job losses.”
He added: “Members have shown that they are prepared to put their money where their mouth is to support industrial action. It’s time that Rolls-Royce gives a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies to avoid the possibility of industrial action.”
A Rolls-Royce spokesperson said:
It is never an easy decision to make changes and propose reductions in our workforce, but it is a sign of the increasingly competitive market in which we operate. We have made significant progress working with representatives and confirmed our commitment to exploring opportunities to mitigate the need for compulsory redundancies wherever possible.