The planned Airbus UK strike has been postponed after the company proposed an improved pay and pension deal. More than 3,000 workers had prepared to begin industrial action on September 2nd, result of an ongoing Airbus pay dispute. This is part of a broader wave of U.K. aviation industry strikes this year.
UK Workers Suspend Industrial Action After New Pay Deal
Airbus workers strike set to begin in September across Airbus’ factories in Broughton, Wales, and Filton near Bristol, and is planned to run for 3 weeks and threatened to disrupt wing production for the A320, A330 and A350 aircraft families.
Airbus fitters and engineers will now vote on a new pay deal in a ballot held between September 12 and 19. As a result, all September industrial action dates have been put on hold.
“As a gesture of goodwill, all industrial action that was due to take place in September has been postponed,” said Rhys McCarthy, Unite’s national officer for aerospace.
If the deal is rejected, Unite said strikes will resume on September, 24 and 24.
Airbus has yet to comment on the current revised proposal. The company has previously defended its pay packages, noting a cumulative 20% pay increase over the past three years and a one-off £2,644 bonus paid to workers paid in April 2025.Workers argue the previously agreed pay deal have not kept pace with the rising cost of living and UK inflation stood at 3.8% in July, according to ONS statistics.
Threat of Further Worker Strikes if Deal Rejected
For now, Airbus has avoided immediate disruption at its two major UK sites. The outcome of September’s ballot will determine wether wing production continues uninterrupted or faces renews industrial action before the end of the month.
The dispute highlights ongoing pressure across the UK aviation industry, where staff at airports and and airlines have struck this year over pay and conditions. Airbus Broughton and Filton sites play a key role in the company supply chain, producing wings design and support as well as fuel and landing gear systems. The completed wings are transported to final assembly lines internationally, in France, Germany, China and the United States. Any disruption to UK manufacturing could ripple through the shipping of aircraft parts beyond Britain.
What are your thoughts on the aviation strikes, airline operations and global supply chains?
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