Airbus UK Faces 10-Day Strike Action

Download IPFS

Thousands of Airbus workers across the UK are set to strike for 10 days in September 2025 over a pay dispute, potentially disrupting wing production at the company’s factories in Broughton, North Wales, and Filton, near Bristol. The industrial action, led by the trade union Unite, follows a ballot where 90% of over 3,000 aircraft fitters and engineers voted in favour of strikes unless Airbus improves its pay offer. The planned stoppages, scheduled for 2-3 and 10-11 September, with additional dates to be confirmed from 15 September, could affect production for Airbus’s A320, A330, and A350 aircraft, as well as military programmes, risking delays in deliveries.

Airbus, one of the UK’s largest aerospace employers, operates two major facilities in Broughton and Filton, employing 8,500 workers. The company stated it is not currently concerned about the impact on year-end deliveries, citing a “competitive and fair” pay offer for 2025. This follows pay rises totalling over 20% in the past three years and a £2,644 bonus paid in April 2025. Sue Partridge, Airbus UK’s country manager for commercial aircraft, emphasised the company’s focus on resolving the dispute to ensure long-term competitiveness and stability. Negotiations with Unite continue, with the union seeking a pay deal that reflects the rising inflation rate, which reached 3.8% in July 2025, the highest since January 2024, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The strikes threaten to disrupt Airbus’s supply chain, particularly at Broughton, a global centre for wing manufacturing, and Filton, a hub for aerospace engineering. A slowdown could impact the UK’s aerospace sector, which contributes £12 billion annually to the economy and supports 120,000 jobs. Unite has called for a pay offer that accounts for the increased cost of living and the specialised skills of its members, noting Airbus’s reported €3.8 billion global profit in 2024. The union warned that production halts could have broader implications for the UK’s defence and aerospace industries.

The dispute comes amid broader economic pressures, with inflation driving up costs for businesses and households. The Department for Business and Trade is monitoring the situation, given Airbus’s strategic importance. A resolution hinges on whether Airbus can meet Unite’s demands without compromising its financial position. As the strike dates approach, the outcome will affect not only workers and the company but also the UK’s aerospace supply chain and regional economies in Wales and Bristol.