Nine weeks of strike action has been suspended at the Rolls-Royce
factory in Barnoldswick, Lancashire, as the members of Unite the
union consider a landmark deal that would save 350 jobs and give
the site a bright future.
Unite suspended the strikes today (Friday) to allow the workforce
to consider proposals which have been hammered out by the union
with the unanimous backing of the plant committee, the shop
stewards and convenors.
If agreed, the deal will give the historic site, which has sat at
the heart of the community for 80 years, a new lease of life as
the company's centre of training and excellence and cement
Rolls-Royce as a key player in green and emerging technologies.
The future of the factory, home of the Lancaster bomber, was
thrown into grave doubt last summer when Rolls-Royce announced
that it was transferring the production of its Trent jet engine
blade work to Singapore.
Unite members feared that the removal of the work from the site
without equivalent work to replace it would signal the end of the
Barnoldswick site. They mounted a huge campaign to defend it and
protect the local economy, which is heavily dependent on the
plant.
The workforce will meet next week to decide on acceptance of the
deal.
Announcing the suspension of the strike, Unite assistant general
secretary for manufacturing Steve Turner, who led the team that
negotiated the agreement, said: “This workforce, their union and
this community have battled long and hard for a brighter future
and there is now very real hope of this on the horizon.
"For many of our members, this breakthrough will be an emotional
time as the security that they can continue to provide for their
families inches closer.
"We are suspending the strike action which has been underway at
the site for eight weeks so that our members can look at the
detail of the proposals and come to a decision when they meet
next week.
"We are advising our members that this deal comes with the
unanimous backing of the shop floor leadership, which is an
overwhelming reflection of this union's confidence in the
proposals.
"Every minute of the past nine weeks, this workforce, their
friends and neighbours and their union have battled for a
brighter future.
"The determination and courage that they have shown, even in the
bleakest of moments, has been inspiring and I am hugely proud to
represent these workers and play our part in giving this
community a future.
"I hope working people everywhere take inspiration from this
dispute. Never give up, there is always hope – and Unite will
fight for you with every step of the way.
"We look forward to resuming discussions with the members at the
earliest possibility as we continue the work of securing a great
future for this site so that it can continue to play its part in
the successful rebuilding of UK manufacturing."
The workforce began targeted strike action on 6 November last
year which ran until Christmas Eve. Workers then returned to the
picket lines at the start of 2021 (Monday 4 January). In total,
the workforce has undertaken eight weeks of strike action.
Rolls Royce is the major employer in Barnoldswick and the
factory, the cradle of the jet engine, has been in operation
since 1943. The closure of the site or a substantial reduction in
work being undertaken at it, would have devastating consequences
for the prosperity of the local community.
