Pay row could lead to strike at helicopter firm

Unite members are being balloted for industrial action after rejecting a pay offer

Thousands of workers at a defence and aerospace company could take strike action in a dispute over pay.

The Unite union has said its members who work at Leonardo Helicopter sites in Somerset, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Luton and Basildon are being balloted for industrial action after a pay offer of 3.2% was rejected.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Leonardo needs to do the right thing, come back to the negotiating table and make an improved offer our members can accept."

A spokesperson for Leonardo, which is based in Yeovil, said the company had made a "fair and competitive offer" to its union members.

Ms Graham added: "Our members are highly-skilled and work on critical defence and aerospace systems yet are being short-changed by a company making billions."

The Leonardo spokesperson said its employees are "the driving force" behind its "technological innovation."

"The two-year pay deal made to union members is fair and competitive, representing a package of fixed and variable pay that has the potential to pay employees 9.2%," they added.

Unite said it was balloting its members until early-October and would give Leonardo at least two weeks' notice of strike dates.