Strikes avoided at Rolls-Royce after bumper pay deal offered
Some staff at the Goodwood plant will get a 17.6% pay rise
One of the south's biggest private employers has reached a deal with its workforce to avoid a strike.
Rolls-Royce Motors near Chichester is awarding some of its staff a 17.6% percent pay rise.
Around 1,200 workers are based at the Goodwood plant.
The pay offer followed negotiations by union members looking to offset current financial strains.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said:
"This is a top notch pay deal for the Rolls-Royce workforce. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars are famous and iconic because of the workers' craft and expertise.
"For years the workers had been underpaid and undervalued but that's changing - the union has won the best pay deal since the site opened."
A spokesman for the company said:
"In the course of our normal pay negotiations process, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars was pleased that Unite the Union supported and recommended a positive pay deal.
"We can confirm that a pay rise of 10% will be awarded to all those covered by our collective bargaining agreement from January 2023.
"Negotiations were cordial and constructive throughout."