December 13th: Skilled manufacturing workers have overwhelmingly voted in favour of having Unite the union represent their interests at Magellan Aerospace in Blackpool. The union will be formally recognised from January 1st 2018.

It means workers at all of Magellan’s production sites in Blackpool, Wrexham, Bournemouth and Greyabbey in Northern Ireland now enjoy the benefits of Unite representation. The deal also strengthens Unite’s influence in the aerospace sector.

Only last month Unite signed another union deal in the North West of England on behalf of hundreds of skilled workers at a multinational aerospace company called Senior Aerospace BWT near Macclesfield.

The two deals are good news for aerospace workers across the North West and it extends Unite’s influence across this critical sector which provides well paid, high skilled work and supports local economies.

The vote by workers at Magellan in Blackpool was an overwhelming thumbs up for Unite, with 95 per cent of the production workers voting yes to the union. The union will be formally recognised from January 1st 2018.

Unite regional officer Phil Allman said: “High skilled aerospace workers have overwhelmingly voted for Unite to represent them at work. They’ll kick start the New Year with Britain’s biggest union backing them. Workers from all of Magellan’s production sites will now get the benefits of Unite representation.

“The union will be negotiating pay, hours and holidays going forward but in a world where technology is rapidly changing Unite will also be playing a role when it comes to supporting training and skills development.

“This deal comes hot on the heels of another union deal in the North West of England on behalf of hundreds of skilled workers at Senior Aerospace BWT near Macclesfield. The two deals will extend Unite’s  influence across the strategically important aerospace industry which provides well paid, high skilled work and supports local economies.”