Aerospace workers to strike over sick pay

The GMB union said workers are not being valued following the sick pay proposals

Workers at an aerospace company have voted to go on strike in a dispute over sick pay.

The GMB union said 96% of its members at Gardner Aerospace in Consett, County Durham, had voted to take industrial action.

The trade union accused bosses of attempting to cut the first three days of sick pay for staff in a move described as "punishing hard-working staff".

Gardner Aerospace declined to comment as it was "actively working" to find a "constructive solution".

The firm's Consett site produces high precision sheet metal components, which GMB say is "heavy manual work, often resulting in illness such as RSI, muscular skeletal conditions and the development of hernias".

Etain Stobbart, GMB organiser, said: "Gardner Aerospace proudly claims that their best investment is their people.

"We agree: its huge profits are based on the physically demanding work of front-line staff.

"To try and reduce our members sick pay demonstrates they are not living their values."

The union said it will meet members to discuss their next steps and urged the company to join in discussions to come to a resolution.