Rolls-Royce workers based at the company’s historic factory in
Barnoldswick Lancashire, the cradle of the jet engine, will begin
three weeks of targeted strike action this Friday (6 November).
The workers, who are members of Unite the union, are fighting to
preserve the long-term viability of the site, following the
decision by Rolls-Royce to offshore the production of the
manufacture of its Trent jet engine blades to a factory in
Singapore, with the loss of 350 jobs.
Unite believes that this would make the factory, which
Rolls-Royce has owned since 1943, potentially unviable. The
proposed loss of jobs, let alone the total closure of the site,
would have a devastating effect on Barnoldswick, where the
company remains the principal employer in the town
Unite has always made clear Rolls-Royce could avoid industrial
action and settle the dispute over compulsory redundancies by
either cancelling its plans to offshore the work to Singapore or
by ensuring the viability of Barnoldswick by introducing similar
work and guaranteeing comparable employment levels. The company
has failed to do so.
The targeted strike action will begin at 06:30 on Friday 6
November and end on Friday 27 November at 19:00. Unite will be
maintaining a picket line with strict social distancing rules in
place throughout the dispute.
Since Rolls-Royce's plans became public there has been a huge
groundswell of support throughout the local community for Unite's
campaign to maintain blade production at Barnoldswick, and
opposition to the company’s offshoring proposals, which coincide
with its efforts to secure £1 billion of financial support from
the government.
Unite regional officer Ross Quinn said: “Our members are taking
industrial action as a last resort and have given Rolls-Royce
every opportunity to alter its plans by ensuring the viability of
Barnoldswick and confirming there will be no compulsory
redundancies.
“This dispute is not just about maintaining the viability of the
Rolls-Royce factory in Barnoldswick, it is about the future
prosperity of the local community.
“Barnoldswick is the cradle of the jet engine and its highly
skilled workforce are not prepared to allow the viability of this
historic site to be undermined without a battle.
“The ability to resolve this dispute is entirely in the hands of
Rolls-Royce.”
Unite assistant general secretary for manufacturing Steve Turner
added: “The decision by Rolls-Royce to shift work from
Barnoldswick to Singapore, costing hundreds of skilled jobs,
removing opportunities for coming generations and undermining the
long term future of the site, is completely unacceptable.
“Involved in the fight of their lives, workers have united the
whole community in demanding replacement products, investment and
guarantees over jobs and the plant's future. We urge the company
to commit to that long term future and a loyal, highly skilled
workforce, before the dispute escalates and the name of
Rolls-Royce as a world class UK brand is undermined further.”
